It's unusual to have signs and symptoms of esophageal cancer in the early stages of the disease. When the disease is more advanced, esophageal cancer symptoms may include:

• Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia). Although this is the most common symptom of esophageal cancer, it usually doesn't appear until a tumor has grown large enough to narrow your esophagus to about half its normal width. At this point, meat and bread may be nearly impossible to swallow, and you may unconsciously change your eating habits, chewing more thoroughly and carefully, or switching to softer foods. In time, even liquids may be hard to swallow.
• Unintentional weight loss. As eating becomes more difficult, you may not consume enough calories to maintain your weight. In addition, cancer in general can cause weight loss and muscle wasting because it changes the way your body metabolizes nutrients.
• Pain in your throat, in your midchest or between your shoulder blades. Although not common, you sometimes might have pain when you swallow or discomfort or burning behind your breastbone.
• Hoarseness, hiccups and sometimes vomiting of blood. These signs and symptoms usually don't appear until cancer is quite advanced.