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Is Heart Burn A Symptom Of Esophageal Cancer?

Posted on Fri, 13 Mar 2015

Question: I am really scared that i have esophageal cancer!!! I have been getting heartburn every once in a while for te past few years, a few months ago i was having abdominal pain that went up to my chest and constipation so i had gone to see a gastroenterologist, he ended up perscribing me with omeprazole, i took it for a little whole daily and it got rid of my heartburn for a little while, for a few months now i have just been taking it every couple of days or when i feel heartburn, i have also been taking VSL #3 for the constipation for a few months now, now for like the last 2 months i have had a cough, not a dry cough, and its honestly more like chest congestion then a cough where i have been coughing up clear mucus, for like all of december the cough was along with really bad sinus problems and a lot of drainage and stuff,and sore throat, a fever for like a few days in there, so i took antibiotic to try to fight it off, didnt really work to well, i still get sore throats a bunch and my nasal drainage is less but not gone, what are the chances that i have esophageal cancer??? Im really scared

Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Get an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy done if there is frequent heartburn

Detailed Answer:
Hi xXxXxx,
Thanks for writing in to us.

I have read through your query in detail.
Though heart burn is a commonly reported symptom, esophageal cancer does not occur in everyone with heart burn.

The symptoms of esophageal cancer include the following
Difficulty in swallowing, in the beginning solids and later even liquids
Weight loss of more than 10 percent
Chest pain, pressure or burning which does not resolve
Worsening indigestion or heartburn
Coughing or hoarseness that persists and does not improve

A patient can have one or more than the symptoms but difficulty in swallowing and weight loss are the commoner ones.

It is also seen that few patients have no symptoms at all and might still have cancer of the esophagus.

I do understand that you might have read similar information on health information available online but at 20 years its having a cancer in esophagus is unusual. If you feel the heart buns are getting more frequent then please get an endoscopy of esophagus and duodenum done. This will clear your doubts and pick up any eshophageal condition causing your heart burn. Please do not worry.

Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.

Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.

Regards,
Dr.Vivek

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar