Warning signs of esophageal cancer as man reveals first symptom that was dismissed by doctors
Britt Jones
Featured Image Credit: Mark Sevillano Jr. via Today
A man found out he had esophageal cancer after initially being told his symptoms were nothing serious.
Cancer is a terrible thing, and it destroys the lives of those suffering and their families too.
With so many varying symptoms, it can be hard to pinpoint exactly what’s happening until it gets to the point where it can’t be ignored any longer.
For one man, after beginning his healthy lifestyle, he was given the devastating cancer diagnosis after having noticed symptoms that his doctor didn’t believe were anything to worry about.
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Sadly, he was later diagnosed with esophageal cancer.
Mark Sevillano Jr. spoke to Today.com, where he admitted having had a stressful few years after his 11-year marriage ended in 2021.
The dad-of-two was also in college completing his teaching degree at the time, making things quite difficult for him.
But thankfully things began to look up in 2024 after he graduated and decided to make healthier life options for himself, such as visiting the gym three days a week and eating healthier foods.
But the 41-year-old California man said that’s when he began to notice a symptom which turned his life upside down.
Telling the outlet, he explained that it began with how he felt while eating.
He noted: “I felt better and just when I started feeling better, I … couldn’t really swallow my food comfortably."
He said that while drinking water would help, within two months his symptoms worsened, and he decided to visit his doctor to find out what was wrong.
But he said his doctor was reluctant to order a swallow test - a test which has a patient swallow under an X-ray machine.
Sevillano explained: “He was like, ‘We’ll schedule a swallow test in the future. I’m not too worried about it'.
“Looking back on it, I was like, ‘Wow, there are so many red flags.'”
However, before he could have the test, he took himself to the emergency room where he was told he had esophageal cancer.
Sevillano said: “I would have never imagined that I had any cancer, let alone esophageal cancer.
“I’ve never even said the word esophagus. It was not on my radar at all.”
For Sevillano, his symptoms led to him losing weight, which he initially believed was due to his change in lifestyle.
But when he couldn’t even swallow liquids as he felt like his throat was clogged, he knew something wasn’t right.
He underwent surgery in October where 6 inches of his esophagus was removed and a strawberry-sized tumor.
His upper intestine was then used to create a new esophagus and, after undergoing chemotherapy, he now can say he is cancer free.
Being unable to swallow, like the father, is a very common symptom of esophageal cancer.
According to The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, early signs of the cancer include painful swallowing, indigestion or heartburn that doesn’t go away
Feeling of pressure, pain or burning in the chest or throat, reduced appetite, a chronic cough or hoarseness, and persistent hiccups.
Later signs as the cancer progresses can be noticed when a person has difficulty swallowing, unintended weight loss, vomiting or regurgitation of food, black, tar-like stools, anemia and pneumonia.
If you think you may have any symptoms of cancer, consult your doctor to understand more about what you could be experiencing.