Difficulty swallowing and heartburn are signs of one of the deadliest cancers that kills more than 50% of people within a year of diagnosis.
Oesophageal cancers form from the lining of the oesophagus - the food pipe connecting your mouth with yours stomach - causing it to narrow as the cancer grows, according to Guts UK Charity. The 14th most common cancer in adults, roughly 9,300 people are diagnosed with it in the UK each year, according to Cancer Research UK.
Every year, around 8,000 people die from the disease. When it's caught early, in stage one, just more than half of people live more than five years after diagnosis, according to the charity. So few people survive the cancer at stage four, the Office for National Statistics doesn't publish a five-year survival rate.
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Instead, it uses a one-year rate, with roughly 20% of people with stage four oesophageal cancer surviving a year or more after they're diagnosed.
Being overweight or obese, smoking, and drinking more than 14 units of alcohol a week increase your risk of developing oesophageal cancer, according to Cancer Research UK. It's more common in people aged 75 and over, but roughly 60% are younger than that, although it's rare in people under 40. It's also more common in men.
Julie Thompson, information manager at Guts UK Charity, said: "Sadly, over 20% of oesophageal cancer cases are diagnosed at emergency settings, such as A&E. This can often mean that the cancer is more advanced, and harder to treat.
"We know that one reason people may be diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in the later stages is because the symptoms can be seen as vague. In fact, a recent UK-wide survey carried out by the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce found that just 2% of people (respondents) could correctly identify all of the symptoms of oesophageal cancer.
"In addition, oesophageal cancer may cause no symptoms until it begins to obstruct passage of food or fluids down the oesophagus, or make swallowing painful. "
Symptoms of oesophageal cancer are numerous but hard to spot, according to the NHS. Although most symptoms are more likely to be caused by something other than cancer, the health service still said it's "important to be checked by a GP if your symptoms change, get worse, or do not feel normal for you".
Often there are no symptoms of oesophageal cancer until narrowing of the food pipe causes difficulty swallowing, which is called dysphagia. Guts UK Charity said: "Going to the doctor early when symptoms begin is important, to increase the chances of early diagnosis and effective treatment."
The main signs are:
- problems swallowing (dysphagia) - you might feel pain or burning when you swallow, or food might stick in your throat or chest
- feeling or being sick
- persistent heartburn or acid reflux
- symptoms of indigestion, such as burping a lot
Other symptoms include:
- a persistent cough
- a hoarse voice
- vomiting
- shortness of breath
- stomach, chest or back pain
pain in your throat or behind your breastbone, especially when swallowing
- loss of appetite or losing weight without trying to - this could be due to difficulty swallowing or pain when you eat, or it could in rare cases be a sign of advanced disease
- feeling tired or having no energy
Cancer Research UK said: "You should see your doctor if you have difficulty swallowing, or you have symptoms that are unusual for you or that won't go away. Your symptoms are unlikely to be cancer but it is important to get them checked by a doctor."
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