Symptoms of esophageal cancer not to be ignored

The disease usually causes no symptoms in its early stage and is often detected late.

It is the sixth most common cause of cancer death in the world, yet many people don’t realize they have the disease.

It’s because cancer of the esophagus – the long tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach – causes no symptoms at the onset of the disease.

This is what happened to former Scottish footballer Andy Goram, who played as a goalkeeper and played for several clubs in Scotland and England; he recently revealed he has esophageal cancer.

The news shocked his followers when Goram, 58, announced in May that he had been told he was only six months old.

In an interview, the former footballer explained that he did not feel well about seven weeks ago when he had problems with eating and drinking.

Goram says he ignored the heartburn he initially suffered after not getting an appointment with his doctor.

Like him, many patients treated for esophageal cancer talk about how this disease initially presents with no symptoms, or with symptoms that are often easily ignored.

In 2020, according to data from the Ministry of Health, this type of cancer was the fifth highest mortality in men in Brazil, after which it affects the airways (trachea, bronchi and lungs), prostate, colon and rectum and stomach.

‘I ignored like everyone else’

Paul Sinclair, of Fife, on the east coast of Scotland, told the BBC that he started feeling what looked like gas in his lower rib cage in September 2020. Sinclair also felt he ate too much after just a few bites.

“I ignored it, like everyone else,” he says. “I felt gaseous. But I was eating well, no pain.”

“It was just a nuisance under my ribs. It lasted about a week and a half and then I thought, ‘I’m going to see someone for this.’

“I went to the doctor and he sent me straight for an endoscopy. The scan confirmed that I had a tumor in my upper stomach.”

Sinclair underwent four rounds of chemotherapy over an eight-week period before taking a six-week break.

Subsequently, she underwent an 11-hour surgery, which also included the removal of the spleen, a small organ located in the upper left part of the abdomen, which participates in the blood filtering process.

Sinclair subsequently underwent “very aggressive chemotherapy” again.

“I got really sick from the chemotherapy sessions,” he explains. “The second session was worse because the body is already weak after the surgery.”

“As you recover, you need to start learning to eat again, chew your food well, eat small portions, and eat many meals throughout the day.”

Now, three years later, Sinclair can return to the gym to do light exercises, but “nothing will ever be the same”.

“You have to remain optimistic and be grateful for every day you wake up,” he says.

“Most importantly, I haven’t had any particularly severe symptoms, but it’s important not to ignore them and see a doctor.”

What are the symptoms of esophageal cancer?

The esophagus is the long tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach. The main symptoms of cancer are:

• Problems with swallowing (dysphagia)
• nausea
• heartburn or reflux
• Indigestion symptoms, such as burping a lot

Other symptoms include:

• Cough that does not improve
• Hoarse voice
• Loss of appetite or weight loss without trying to lose it
• Tiredness or lack of energy
• Pain in the throat or center of the chest, especially when swallowing

Source: NHS (UK National Health Service)

“You never fully recover”

Linda Moffat, who also lives in Scotland, considered herself a fit woman at 48 and went horseback riding every day.

But in December 2014, he began to feel “that the food would not come down, as if it had attached itself to me,” he recalls. “The pain would increase and the food would freeze.”

“I had to throw up to feel good. I thought it was an ulcer. And it wasn’t anything serious.”

After a while, Moffat says he “took courage to talk to the doctor” and was prescribed antacids. But the symptoms continued and she was referred for an endoscopy.

The examination revealed a “very advanced tumor” in the esophagus and this was “the beginning of a very long and difficult journey,” he explains.

“It’s a very aggressive cancer and the surgery is really brutal – eight hours,” he says. “Get chemotherapy before and after. You have to learn to eat again.”

“And you end up having a lot of problems with vomiting, diarrhea and pain. I think no one ever fully recovers.”

“I’m very lucky. My cancer was very advanced and I only had a 20% chance of survival,” he says.

“It’s been nearly seven years and I’m so happy to be alive and so grateful to everyone who helped me get here.”

“This disease is often called the ‘silent killer’ because the symptoms vary a lot,” he adds. “You just pray that people get to the doctor fast enough”

‘The sooner the better’

Caroline Geraghty, a registered nurse at Cancer Research UK, says the risk of esophageal cancer is increased by “typical factors” such as smoking, drinking alcohol, gaining weight and chewing tobacco.

“But having a higher risk doesn’t mean you’ll definitely have cancer,” he says. “Most people don’t know why they have esophageal cancer.”

Geraghty advises anyone experiencing symptoms to see their doctor “to be sure”.

“As we know, the earlier the cancer is identified, the better the chances of survival for the patient,” he added.

But he notes that for most people who complain of symptoms like heartburn and dysphagia, the diagnosis isn’t esophageal cancer.

“We can understand why some GPs don’t send the patient straight for endoscopy to find out what’s wrong; some people really need antacids,” he says.

“But there will be other people who will need a more thorough investigation.”

– This text was originally published at https://www.bbc.com/portuguese/geral-61806403

Source: Terra

Benjamin

Benjamin Smith is a fashion journalist and author at Gossipify, known for his coverage of the latest fashion trends and industry insights. He writes about clothing, shoes, accessories, and runway shows, providing in-depth analysis and unique perspectives. He’s respected for his ability to spot emerging designers and trends, and for providing practical fashion advice to readers.