Oesophageal cancer
The symptoms of oesophageal cancer can also be symptoms of other conditions, but it’s important to see your GP if you have any of these symptoms.
You may feel pain or a burning sensation when you swallow. Or your food may stick in your throat or chest.
These are the most common symptoms of oesophageal cancer.
A harmless narrowing of the oesophagus called a stricture can also make it difficult for you to swallow. It is important to get this symptom checked by your doctor.
Unexplained weight loss means losing weight without meaning to.
You may be put off eating if you find it hard to swallow or have pain when you swallow your food. This can also make you lose weight.
You can get indigestion when acid from your stomach goes back up (refluxes) into the oesophagus. Or when the stomach is inflamed or irritated.
Remember that indigestion is common and it's not usually caused by cancer. It can be very painful, even when there's nothing seriously wrong. See your doctor if these symptoms don't go away. Also talk to your doctor if anything you take for indigestion stops working.
You may feel pain in the centre of your chest, or more rarely in your back or between your shoulder blades. This can get worse when you swallow or have indigestion.
Other symptoms can include:
You may regurgitate food – this is when food comes back up soon after you swallow it.
A cough that won't go away or that happens when you try to eat can be caused by oesophageal cancer.
Your voice can become raspy or croaky. It's not a common symptom and can be caused by other harmless conditions.
You may cough up blood or have blood in your vomit (or food that you bring back up) if your oesophagus is bleeding. This isn't common.
Your poo may be darker – almost black – if cancer is making your oesophagus bleed. This is uncommon. You can get darker poo if you're taking iron tablets.
You might feel tired for no obvious reason if you have oesophageal cancer.
If your oesophagus is bleeding, you might have a reduced number of red blood cells (anaemia). This can also make you feel tired.
Last reviewed: 14 Aug 2023
Next review due: 14 Aug 2026
Your GP should refer you to a specialist if your symptoms could be due to oesophageal cancer.
You might have one or more of these tests to find out the cause of your symptoms, or to find out the size of your cancer and whether it has spread.
Factors that increase the risk of oesophageal cancer include being older or overweight, smoking and drinking alcohol, and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.
Oesophageal cancer is a cancer of the food pipe. The food pipe is also called the oesophagus or gullet and is part of the digestive system.
There is no national screening programme for oesophageal cancer in the UK. But you may have tests or treatment if you are at an increased risk of developing it.
Oesophageal cancer starts in the food pipe, also known as your oesophagus or gullet. The oesophagus is the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach.
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