Symptoms of esophageal cancer can include:

• Difficulty swallowing, particularly when eating meat, bread or raw vegetables (as the tumor grows, it can block the pathway to the stomach. Even liquids may be painful to swallow)
• Pressure or burning in the chest
• Severe and unexplained weight loss
• Pain in the throat or back, behind the breastbone or between the shoulder blades
• Hoarseness or chronic cough
• Vomiting
• Coughing up blood
• Frequent choking on food

However, these may also be symptoms of more common, less severe conditions.