Early symptoms of esophageal cancer

Esophageal cancer is a common malignant tumor of the digestive system. The early symptoms are usually not obvious, but there are some manifestations that can cause vigilance. These symptoms include difficulty swallowing, pain behind the sternum, loss of appetite and weight loss, acid reflux and heartburn, cough and hoarseness. If the symptoms persist, it is recommended to seek medical attention in time and take targeted treatment measures under the guidance of a doctor. The details are as follows:

1. Difficulty swallowing: Patients with early esophageal cancer often feel a sense of obstruction when swallowing food, especially when eating dry and hard food. This symptom is caused by the presence of tumors in the esophagus, which leads to narrowing of the esophageal cavity. Patients are advised to choose soft foods, such as porridge and soup, to reduce the burden on the esophagus. At the same time, timely medical treatment for endoscopic examination can detect lesions in the esophagus at an early stage, and a biopsy can be performed to confirm the condition if necessary.

2. Pain behind the sternum: Some patients may feel pain behind the sternum or under the xiphoid process when swallowing, which may be caused by tumor stimulation or invasion of the esophageal wall. To alleviate this pain, patients should avoid eating irritating foods such as overheated, overcold, spicy, etc. If necessary, use analgesics such as ibuprofen tablets under the guidance of a doctor to relieve pain symptoms. Regular follow-up examinations are required to monitor the progress of the disease.

3. Loss of appetite and weight loss: Due to dysphagia, patients eat less, resulting in loss of appetite and weight loss. This situation will affect the patient's overall nutritional status and quality of life. Nutritionists can develop personalized nutritional supplement plans for patients, increase the intake of high-calorie, high-protein foods, and conduct regular weight monitoring to ensure that patients' nutritional needs are met and prevent malnutrition.

4. Acid reflux and heartburn: Some patients may experience symptoms such as acid reflux and heartburn, which are similar to the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease. This is because the tumor affects the function of the esophageal sphincter, causing gastric acid reflux. Using acid-suppressing drugs such as omeprazole capsules under the guidance of a doctor can effectively alleviate the symptoms of acid reflux and heartburn. Patients should also pay attention to their eating habits, avoid overeating, eating before lying in bed, and keep a head-high and feet-low sleeping position to reduce the occurrence of gastric acid reflux.

5. Cough and hoarseness: When the tumor compresses or invades the recurrent laryngeal nerve, it may cause persistent cough and hoarseness. This symptom indicates that the lesion may have invaded the surrounding tissues and needs to be taken seriously. Under the guidance of a doctor, imaging examinations such as chest CT and MRI should be performed to clarify the cause and take appropriate treatment measures, such as surgical removal of the tumor or radiotherapy and chemotherapy, to relieve symptoms and control the disease.

Early symptoms of esophageal cancer should be taken seriously and medical examinations should be sought in time to detect and treat the disease early. Maintaining good living habits and paying attention to diet and weight management will help improve the quality of life and prognosis. For patients who have developed relevant symptoms, targeted treatment measures should be taken under the guidance of a doctor to ensure that the disease is effectively controlled.