Do I Have Esophageal Cancer Quiz
Questions: 15 · 10 minutes
1. What best describes pain or burning when you swallow?
I do not have pain or burning when swallowing.
I occasionally notice mild irritation that passes quickly.
Pain repeatedly makes me eat slowly, choose different foods, or avoid some meals.
The pain is severe, or it prevents me from taking enough food or fluid.
2. Over the past several weeks, how has swallowing solid food felt?
I have not noticed difficulty swallowing solid food.
Dry or large bites occasionally move slowly but clear without much effort.
Solid foods repeatedly stick or require extra chewing, water, or softer meals.
Swallowing has become very difficult, or I now struggle with liquids or saliva too.
3. How have swallowing discomfort, nausea, or early fullness affected how much you eat or drink?
They have not reduced my usual food or fluid intake.
I occasionally eat a little less but still meet my usual needs.
I regularly skip foods, reduce portions, or leave meals unfinished because of symptoms.
I cannot keep up with fluids or nutrition, or I have signs of dehydration such as very little urine or severe dizziness.
4. Which description best matches pain or pressure in your chest or upper back?
I have not noticed unexplained pain or pressure there.
I have had brief, mild discomfort that does not keep returning.
I have recurrent or persistent unexplained discomfort, including pain related to eating or swallowing.
The pain is severe or sudden, or occurs with breathing difficulty, sweating, or faintness.
5. When checking your neck and the area above your collarbones, what have you noticed?
I have not noticed a new lump or swelling.
I had temporary tenderness or swelling during an obvious infection, and it resolved.
I have a persistent or unexplained lump or swelling that has not resolved.
A lump is rapidly enlarging or occurs with breathing difficulty or major trouble swallowing.
6. After swallowing, how often does food or liquid unexpectedly come back into your mouth?
This does not happen to me.
It has happened occasionally after a large or hurried meal.
Undigested food or liquid comes back repeatedly, including after ordinary meals.
It happens with choking, inability to clear what came back, or difficulty breathing.
7. Imagine you are midway through a meal. Which experience is closest to what usually happens?
Food passes normally, without a sticking sensation.
I rarely need an extra sip of water to help a bite pass.
I sometimes stop eating because food feels stuck, although it eventually clears.
Food has remained lodged, or the sensation has occurred with choking or breathing trouble.
8. Which best describes any weight change you did not intend?
I have not noticed unintended weight loss.
My weight has shifted slightly, without a continuing downward pattern.
I have had a clear, ongoing loss of weight without trying.
The loss has been rapid or substantial, especially with weakness or difficulty eating.
9. During ordinary activities such as walking across a room or standing up, what have you noticed?
No unusual weakness, dizziness, shortness of breath, or reduced stamina.
Mild tiredness or brief lightheadedness that is unusual for me.
Recurring weakness, dizziness, breathlessness, or reduced stamina that affects activities.
Fainting, near-fainting, marked breathing difficulty, or weakness accompanied by chest pain.
10. What has happened to your voice recently?
My voice has not become unusually hoarse or weak.
I had brief hoarseness with a clear temporary cause, such as a cold or heavy voice use.
Hoarseness or voice weakness has persisted, recurred, or lacks an obvious cause.
The voice change is worsening and occurs with noisy breathing, breathing difficulty, or major trouble swallowing.
11. What is the most concerning vomiting-related experience you have had recently?
I have had neither nausea nor vomiting.
I have felt nauseated but have not repeatedly vomited.
I have vomited repeatedly, but I have not seen blood or coffee-ground-like material.
I have vomited red blood or dark material that looked like coffee grounds.
12. Which description best matches recent changes in your bowel movements?
I have noticed no relevant change.
There was a brief change in color or consistency that returned to normal.
I have recurrent, unexplained darker stools or another persistent change.
I have had black, sticky or tarry stools, or clearly visible blood.
13. How does recent heartburn or indigestion compare with your usual pattern?
I have not had heartburn or indigestion.
It is occasional and follows a familiar, short-lived pattern.
It is new, increasingly frequent, persistent, or no longer responds as it usually did.
It occurs with severe chest pressure, sweating, faintness, or shortness of breath.
14. If you have noticed swallowing changes, how have they developed?
I have not noticed a swallowing change.
The change is occasional and has not clearly progressed.
It is becoming more frequent or limiting the range of foods I can manage.
It has worsened rapidly or progressed from solid-food difficulty to liquid difficulty.
15. During meals, at night, or when lying down, which coughing pattern is closest to yours?
I do not have an unusual cough or choking episodes.
I occasionally cough, but it is not a recurring pattern around eating or lying down.
I repeatedly cough or choke during meals, after swallowing, or when lying down.
I have coughed up blood, struggled to breathe, or had a severe choking episode.