11. Difficulty Swallowing
Difficulty swallowing, known medically as dysphagia, is the most common symptom of esophageal cancer. Patients may feel pain or burning in their chest when they swallow, or may feel as though food has stuck in the chest or throat.
As esophageal cancer progresses, difficulty swallowing typically worsens over time, moving from solid foods to soft foods and eventually even liquids. This progressive nature is a key characteristic of esophageal cancer symptoms. Difficulty swallowing can also point to stomach cancer, throat cancer, and in some cases lung cancer, when a tumor presses on nearby structures. A sensation of food getting stuck that persists or worsens over several weeks warrants investigation regardless of how mild it initially feels.