Oesophageal Cancer Awareness Month: Signs your sore throat needs medical attention

If you have a sore throat or difficulty swallowing, it’s likely to be caused by a virus. Unless it doesn’t go away. If you have a persistent sore throat lasting three to four weeks, the NHS says you should see your GP because it could be a sign of something more serious. And, rarely, it could be a symptom of oesophageal cancer. Indeed, Guts UK says NHS data shows 20% of oesophageal cancer cases were diagnosed at emergency settings such as A&E, indicating that people are being diagnosed at later stages when the cancer is harder to treat.

Chow says around 9,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with oesophageal cancer each year, and warns: “Unfortunately, there is no clear established screening programme, and symptoms of oesophageal cancer can sometimes mimic more common problems such as indigestion, or be nonspecific, such as weight loss. This means that more than half of patients present with more advanced cancer.”. What are the symptoms of oesophageal cancer?.

They include…. Difficulty swallowing. This is one of the most common symptoms of oesophageal cancer, and Thompson says: “This symptom starts with solid foods and progresses to liquids as the cancer worsens. This is called dysphagia.”. Weight loss. This is weight loss without trying, stresses Thompson. Indigestion or heartburn. Another symptom, says Chow, is “indigestion or heartburn that doesn’t go away,” and Thompson explains: “Some people report longstanding heartburn before developing symptoms, although most people who develop oesophageal cancer have no symptoms of this kind before they experience dysphagia.”.

Indigestion and heartburn are very common though, and rarely a sign of cancer. Pain in your throat or behind your breastbone could be linked to oesophageal cancer, says Chow. Food coming back up. Chow says regurgitation is a less common symptom of oesophageal cancer, and Thompson explains there may be regurgitation of food or being sick after eating or drinking, and regurgitated food may contain blood.

Coughing and hoarseness. Other less common symptoms include choking, coughing or unexplained chest infections, and Chow says there may be “A cough that won’t go away, hoarseness of the voice, or coughing up blood.”. Dark poo. Tiredness. Being tired may be a symptom, and Thompson says this can sometimes happen when a person with oesophageal cancer develops anaemia, which can make you very tired, because of bleeding in the oesophagus.

Who’s at risk?. Chow says the risk of developing cancer generally depends on factors including your age – most people with oesophageal cancer are aged over 60, with rates in the UK peaking in people aged 85 to 89 – medical conditions, and lifestyle factors such as being overweight. “For oesophageal cancer, smoking or chewing tobacco increases your risk, and smoking and drinking alcohol together increases the risk further,” he says.

If you have a history of chronic acid reflux or Barrett’s oesophagus (a condition where the cells lining the oesophagus have become abnormal due to long-term acid reflux), this can also increase your risk of oesophageal cancer, he says. Thompson adds: “Most people will seek medical attention because of problems swallowing, but it’s important to see your GP if you experience persistent heartburn, reflux, or any of the other symptoms for three weeks or more.