Symptoms of esophageal cancer, or an esophageal tumor, vary depending on the stages of the disease. The most common symptoms are difficulty swallowing and a sore throat. As the disease progresses, the symptoms usually get worse. Cough, hoarse voice, and weight loss can be other common symptoms.
An esophageal tumor is often caused by cigarette smoking, although many other factors can contribute to this type of cancer. In the early stages, the patient may not notice any changes or abnormalities. After a short period of time, tenderness in the neck and throat may soon develop. The patient may notice difficulty swallowing, especially hard, crunchy, or textured foods. There may be a feeling of fullness or tightness in the throat.
In some cases of esophageal cancer or an esophageal tumor, the sore throat may radiate to other areas, such as the upper chest. Swollen glands may also be present. As the disease progresses, a cough is usually present as well. The cough may start out as a hacking cough, and sometimes there may also be excess phlegm or mucus.
Another common symptom of an esophageal tumor is hoarseness. The patient may notice a change in the way her voice sounds. Often the voice can take on a lower, harsher edge. In advanced stages, the vocal cords can be completely damaged by the presence of the tumor, which can make speaking painful, difficult, or even impossible.
The patient with an esophageal tumor may experience organ damage as the cancer metastasizes to other areas of the body. You may notice that the sore throat has spread over a wide area of your back. This could indicate kidney failure or complications. In some cases, the spinal cord can also be affected.
If esophageal cancer spreads to the lungs, the patient will experience another set of symptoms. In advanced stages of an esophageal tumor that has affected the lungs, the patient's cough may get progressively worse. He may start coughing up blood or find drops of blood on his pillow. Chest pain and pressure are common in this case.
When the esophageal tumor has affected one or both lungs, the patient is also at risk of developing pneumonia. Symptoms of pneumonia are fever, chills, deep cough, and chest pain. Difficulty breathing is another common symptom.
A patient with esophageal cancer may be treated with a combination of therapies. These may include radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery. Patients with an esophageal tumor can be successfully treated and possibly cured if the disease is found early, before the cancer has spread to other regions of the body. Once the cancer has metastasized, the mortality rate is significantly higher.