Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsNoncancerous CausesSymptoms Pointing to CancerTypes of CancerChronic ConditionsQuestions to Ask
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Noncancerous Causes
Symptoms Pointing to Cancer
Types of Cancer
Chronic Conditions
Questions to Ask
Experiencing a new symptom of difficulty swallowing or feeling food getting stuck in your throat can be concerning. Typically, swallowing is a process people doreflexively,without thought. You want to know the cause and how it can be fixed. You may also wonder if difficulty swallowing is a sign of cancer.
Although cancer is one possible cause of difficulty swallowing, it is not the most likely. More commonly, difficulty swallowing is likely to be a noncancerous condition, such asgastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)(chronic acid reflux) ordry mouth.
This article will review the causes of swallowing difficulty, as well as what symptoms to be concerned about.
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Describing Difficulty Swallowing (or Dysphagia)
The medical term for difficulty swallowing is “dysphagia.” It can be experienced and described in many ways.Dysphagiasymptoms may come from the oral cavity or theesophagus(the food tube that runs from the mouth to the stomach).
Those with dysphagia symptoms from factors in the oral cavity may describe:
Those with esophageal causes of dysphagia may describe slightly different symptoms. They may experience:
Noncancerous Causes of Dysphagia Symptoms
Most causes of dysphagia are not due to cancer but are likely due to other reasons. The act of swallowing is a complex process that requires many things to function properly. Dysphagia can occur if any of the normal swallowing processes are affected.
Swallowing starts in the mouth with chewing, when saliva is mixed with the food to begin breaking it down and making it ready to digest. The tongue then helps to push this foodbolus(a small round mass of food) down through the back of the throat and into the esophagus.
As it moves through, the epiglottis closes to keep food in the esophagus and not go into the trachea (windpipe), which goes to the lungs. Muscles along the esophagus help push the food down and into the stomach.
A condition that interferes with any part of the swallowing process can lead to symptoms of dysphagia. Some of these conditions include:
When Do Dysphagia Symptoms Point to Cancer?
Although it’s not necessarily the most likely cause,cancercan result from dysphagia. Cancer may be suspected if the dysphagia progresses, continuing to worsen over time and happening more frequently. Additionally, other symptoms may also be noted.
Other symptoms that may be associated with cancer can include:
Types of Cancer With Dysphagia as a Symptom
Multiple types of cancer may present as dysphagia as a symptom. These most commonly are cancers that directly affect the structures responsible for swallowing, such ashead and neck canceroresophageal cancer. Other cancers can include:
Esophageal Cancer
Chronic Conditions With Dysphagia as a Symptom
A disease or condition that affects any of the swallowing mechanisms can cause dysphagia. These types of conditions can include neurological disorders, which may affect memory or cause muscle weakness. They can also include conditions in which medications necessary to treat the disorder can lead to side effects of dysphagia.
Conditions that may produce dysphagia include:
Questions to Bring to a Provider Appointment
If you’re experiencing dysphagia, you may want to talk to a healthcare provider about what you’re experiencing. It can be important to note when the symptoms started and if there are any other symptoms.
You’ll also want to be prepared to ask a healthcare provider questions. Write them down and bring them with you so you don’t forget to ask them.
Some questions may include:
Summary
If you’re experiencing ongoing difficulty swallowing, talk to a healthcare provider and have your symptoms evaluated for the cause.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Wilkinson JM, Codipilly DC, Wilfahrt RP.Dysphagia: evaluation and collaborative management.Am Fam Physician. 2021;103(2):97-106.Noel CW, Sutradhar R, Zhao H, et al.Patient-reported symptom burden as a predictor of emergency department use and unplanned hospitalization in head and neck cancer: a longitudinal population-based study.JCO. 2021;39(6):675-684. doi:10.1200/JCO.20.01845National Cancer Institute.Stomach cancer symptoms.National Cancer Institute.Thyroid cancer treatment.National Cancer Institute.Salivary gland cancer.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Wilkinson JM, Codipilly DC, Wilfahrt RP.Dysphagia: evaluation and collaborative management.Am Fam Physician. 2021;103(2):97-106.Noel CW, Sutradhar R, Zhao H, et al.Patient-reported symptom burden as a predictor of emergency department use and unplanned hospitalization in head and neck cancer: a longitudinal population-based study.JCO. 2021;39(6):675-684. doi:10.1200/JCO.20.01845National Cancer Institute.Stomach cancer symptoms.National Cancer Institute.Thyroid cancer treatment.National Cancer Institute.Salivary gland cancer.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Wilkinson JM, Codipilly DC, Wilfahrt RP.Dysphagia: evaluation and collaborative management.Am Fam Physician. 2021;103(2):97-106.Noel CW, Sutradhar R, Zhao H, et al.Patient-reported symptom burden as a predictor of emergency department use and unplanned hospitalization in head and neck cancer: a longitudinal population-based study.JCO. 2021;39(6):675-684. doi:10.1200/JCO.20.01845National Cancer Institute.Stomach cancer symptoms.National Cancer Institute.Thyroid cancer treatment.National Cancer Institute.Salivary gland cancer.
Wilkinson JM, Codipilly DC, Wilfahrt RP.Dysphagia: evaluation and collaborative management.Am Fam Physician. 2021;103(2):97-106.
Noel CW, Sutradhar R, Zhao H, et al.Patient-reported symptom burden as a predictor of emergency department use and unplanned hospitalization in head and neck cancer: a longitudinal population-based study.JCO. 2021;39(6):675-684. doi:10.1200/JCO.20.01845
National Cancer Institute.Stomach cancer symptoms.
National Cancer Institute.Thyroid cancer treatment.
National Cancer Institute.Salivary gland cancer.
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