Hiccups, coughing, frequent choking on food, constant phlegm in the throat, dry throat, always something blocking, back pain at the fenestra, swelling and pain behind the sternum, foreign body blockage …… Are these manifestations esophageal cancer?
The above symptoms can occur at different times of esophageal cancer, but are more commonly associated with other benign diseases. For example, cough is a common manifestation of cold, pneumonia, bronchitis, etc.; hiccups are a very common physical manifestation. Therefore, the mere appearance of these symptoms does not mean that you have esophageal cancer.
However, although the above-mentioned symptoms are unlikely to be esophageal cancer, this is not a reason to let down your guard. For example, continuous or persistent hiccups are often caused by emergencies such as cerebrovascular or neurological disease, uremia, and diabetes complicated by ketosis, while advanced esophageal cancer can also cause hiccups or phrenic nerve paralysis when cancerous tissue invades the phrenic nerve; long-term coughing may be a sign of chronic bronchitis and chronic pharyngitis. All of these diseases require timely diagnosis and standardized treatment, rather than being left alone.
There is a universal feature of cancer manifestations: they are long-lasting and progressive. For example, difficulty swallowing is the most common symptom of esophageal cancer and is characterized by progressive worsening, that is, the symptoms manifest themselves more and more severely over time, starting with difficulty swallowing dry, coarse foods (such as rice), followed by difficulty swallowing semifluid foods (such as rice porridge, noodles in soup, etc.), and finally, the inability to swallow even water and saliva.
So, if you have symptoms such as difficulty swallowing and pain behind the sternum that worsen progressively, it is important to seek early medical attention to actively identify the cause and treat it.