If you go to your doctor with symptoms like difficulty or painful swallowing, blood in your vomit or worsening reflux, your doctor may perform a physical examination to check for signs of disease.

A physical examination is a check-up, where your doctor will look for things like lumps, swelling or anything else that seems unusual. They will ask you about your medical history, family history and your health habits.

You will have blood tests as part of the initial set of tests. Blood tests can check:

• your blood count
• how well your liver and kidneys are working
• your general health.

Blood tests alone cannot diagnose oesophageal cancer, but they provide important information about your overall health.

An endoscopy (also called gastroscopy or oesophagoscopy) is the main test used to diagnose oesophageal cancer.

An endoscope is a thin, flexible tube with a small camera on the end. While you are sedated (asleep), the doctor will slide the endoscope down your throat to look for abnormal areas in the oesophagus and stomach.

The doctor will also take a small tissue sample during this procedure. This is called a biopsy. The biopsy is sent to a pathologist who looks at it under a microscope to check for signs of cancer.

After your endoscopy, you may need to be booked for an endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) to see whether the cancer has spread to the surrounding lymph nodes, or deeper into the oesophagus or stomach tissue. EUS uses an endoscope with an ultrasound probe at the end, which uses soundwaves to create a picture of the inside of the body. The doctor may also take a biopsy during the procedure. The result can help doctors better assess the cancer.

A laparoscopy is a small operation done whilst you're asleep under general anaesthetic. A long tube with a camera is put in through small cuts in your tummy. This lets doctors see if cancer has spread. Small tissue samples (biopsies) can also be taken during this procedure.

Several types of scans may be used to look at your oesophagus and nearby organs.

• A Computed Tomography (CT) scan uses X-rays to make 3D pictures of your oesophagus and nearby organs. This scan usually also includes your chest and pelvis to check if cancer has spread.
• A Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan uses a small amount of radioactive substance put into a vein. It can help to find very small areas of cancer cells. You may have a PET scan combined with a CT scan.
• A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan uses magnets and radio waves to make detailed pictures of your oesophagus and the soft tissue nearby.

Results should be ready within two weeks of having the tests. Waiting can be stressful. If your symptoms get worse while waiting, contact your doctor or go to an emergency department if needed.

Even if you have been given an urgent referral, you may have to wait days or weeks for appointments and results. This is common. Any cancer growth during this waiting period is unlikely to cause additional harm if your symptoms are otherwise stable. However, it's still important to ask how long you may have to wait.