Oesophageal cancer may not cause symptoms in its early stage. Common symptoms are listed below. These symptoms can also be caused by many other conditions and do not necessarily mean that you have cancer. Speak with your general practitioner (GP) if you are concerned.
Oesophageal cancer symptoms
- difficulty swallowing
- new heartburn or reflux
- reflux that doesn’t go away
- food or fluids “catching” in the throat or episodes of choking when swallowing
- pain when swallowing
- unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite
- feeling uncomfortable in the upper abdomen, especially when eating
- unexplained tiredness that won’t go away
- vomit that has blood in it
- black or bloody stools
Key resource
Download a PDF booklet on this topic.
More resources
Dr Spiro Raftopoulos, Gastroenterologist, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, WA; Peter Blyth, Consumer; Jeff Bull, Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Nurse Consultant, Cancer Services, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, SA; Mick Daws, Consumer; Dr Steven Leibman, Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeon, Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW; Prof Michael Michael, Medical Oncologist, Lower and Upper Gastrointestinal Oncology Service, and Co-Chair Neuroendocrine Unit, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Dr Andrew Oar, Radiation Oncologist, Icon Cancer Centre, Royal Brisbane Hospital, QLD; Rose Rocca, Senior Clinical Dietitian: Upper Gastrointestinal, Nutrition and Speech Pathology Department, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Letchemi Valautha, Consumer; Lesley Woods, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA.
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