Cancer of the food pipe often grows quietly, but it sends out clear signals once the tumor gets big enough to block or irritate the tube. Knowing those signs early can make the difference between a small, curable tumor and one that has already spread.

The first complaint many people notice is trouble swallowing. It can feel as if food is hanging up in the chest or taking extra gulps to get down. At first only dry foods like bread or meat stick, but over weeks liquids can also slow. Pain behind the breastbone that feels like bad heartburn or a dull pressure is common, and it may shoot into the back between the shoulder blades. Some folks start to drool because saliva can’t zip down the pipe. A husky voice or cough that wasn’t there before can mean the tumor is pressing on the nerve that controls the voice box. Unplanned weight loss, night sweats, or extreme fatigue often follow because eating hurts and the body is fighting the cancer. Later, vomiting blood or black material can occur if the tumor bleeds.

Because these clues mimic ordinary heartburn or a chest cold, many patients wait months to see a doctor. Any new swallowing problem that lasts more than two weeks deserves a scope exam.