Most patients will go to the doctor once they have difficulty swallowing food/drink. It is important to go to the doctor as soon as symptoms begin, to increase the chances of early diagnosis which may improve outcomes of treatment.
If the GP has any concerns, then you will be referred to a specialist at the hospital.
Tests to determine if you have oesophageal cancer may include:
- Barium swallow – which involves swallowing a white liquid that contains barium, this liquid shows up on an x-ray, to help reveal any obstructions.
- Endoscopy (also known as a gastroscopy) – where you will be given a local anaesthetic throat spray before a thin, flexible telescope (endoscope) is passed into the oesophagus/gullet, through your mouth. This will allow for any changes in the lining to be seen by a tiny camera and a biopsy (sample) to be taken for testing, if necessary.
- EUS (endoscopic ultrasound) – this is like an endoscopy but the tip of the endoscope has an ultrasound probe on it.
- CT scan - takes a series of X-rays which build up a 3D picture of the inside of the body so tumours can be seen.
- PET/CT scan - this is a combination of a CT scan and a positron emission tomography (PET) scan. A PET scan uses low-dose radiation to measure the activity of cells in different parts of the body.
- Laparoscopy – this is a small operation which allows the doctor to look at the upper part of the abdomen (tummy) and take further biopsies if required. It is done under a general anaesthetic as a day case in hospital. Whether this is needed depends on the position of the tumour within the oesophagus.
For more information on all the above tests, please visit:
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/oesophageal-cancer/getting-diagnosed/tests-for-oesophageal-cancer
