The National Cancer Institute (NCI) describes the esophagus as a 10-inch long muscular tube in the chest that connects the mouth and the stomach. Each year, 13,000 men and 3,500 women are diagnosed with esophageal cancer. NCI reports that adenocarcinoma is one type of esophageal cancer, and is the most common form of esophageal cancer in the United States. There are multiple symptoms associated with esophageal adenocarcinoma, though the beginning stages may be asymptomatic.
Swallowing Difficulties
Merck Manuals, an online medical encyclopedia, reports that the earliest symptom of esophageal adenocarcinoma is often difficulty swallowing solid foods. As the cancer progresses and the cancer cells block more and more space in the esophagus, it will become hard to swallow semi-soft food, then soft foods, and ultimately it will be hard to swallow liquids. If the cancerous cells grow too much, it may even be difficult swallowing saliva. According to Merck Manuals, the progression of blockage indicates esophageal cancer, as opposed to other esophageal problems, such as spasm.
Pain
Another symptom associated with esophageal adenocarcinoma is pain. The NCI reports that the person may feel esophageal pain, which will feel like chest pain; this pain may radiate from the chest to the back. The person may also experience pain while swallowing, in addition to difficulty swallowing, depending on where the cancer cells are growing.
Other Symptoms
Other symptoms that are associated with esophageal cancer include, according to the Mayo Clinic, fatigue and unintended weight loss. The NCI reports that esophageal adenocarcinoma may also cause a hoarse voice, if the cancerous cells spread up the esophagus and attach to the vocal cords. It may also cause a persistent cough. This hoarseness and cough is different from those caused by ordinary upper respiratory infections in the duration of the symptoms; hoarseness and coughing from esophageal adenocarcinoma do not clear up, and last longer than two weeks.
