Introduction to the most typical symptoms of esophageal cancer in the elderly

Dysphagia is currently the most common symptom of esophageal cancer. The elderly are also a high-risk group for esophageal cancer. So, what are the other symptoms of esophageal cancer? The following is a detailed introduction by experts on the common symptoms of esophageal cancer.

Symptoms of esophageal cancer in the elderly are as follows:

(1) Reflux The infiltration and inflammation of esophageal cancer reflexively causes increased secretion of mucus from the esophageal and salivary glands. When tumor proliferation causes esophageal obstruction, mucus accumulates in the esophagus and causes reflux. Symptoms of esophageal cancer include frequent vomiting of mucus, which may contain food, blood, etc. Reflux can also cause choking and even aspiration pneumonia.

(2) Pain: Persistent pain behind the sternum or between the shoulder blades on the back often indicates that esophageal cancer has infiltrated outward, causing periasophagitis and mediastinitis. The pain can also be caused by deep esophageal ulcers caused by the tumor. Pain caused by tumors in the lower thoracic segment or cardia may be located in the upper abdomen.

(3) Dysphagia is a typical symptom of esophageal cancer in the elderly: Dysphagia is often intermittent at the beginning, and can be aggravated by food blockage or local inflammation and edema, or alleviated by tumor necrosis or inflammation. However, the overall trend is persistent and progressively aggravated. When obvious dysphagia occurs, the tumor has often involved more than 2/3 of the circumference of the esophagus.

(4) Other tumors may invade large blood vessels, especially the thoracic aorta, causing fatal hemorrhage. Tumor compression of the recurrent laryngeal nerve may cause hoarseness, and invasion of the phrenic nerve may cause hiccups. Compression of the trachea or bronchi may cause shortness of breath or dry cough, which is one of the symptoms of esophageal cancer.

What are the main symptoms of esophageal cancer in the elderly? The above is a detailed introduction of the symptoms of esophageal cancer by experts. I hope everyone can understand the symptoms of esophageal cancer. If you have any questions about the symptoms of esophageal cancer, please consult our online experts.