Sign of deadly cancer that kills 8,000 Brits a year could be dismissed at Christmas - what to spot

The NHS has issued a warning that a common symptom, often experienced during the festive season, could be an indicator of a lethal disease. The health body states that heartburn could be a sign of oesophageal cancer, which claims approximately 8,000 lives in the UK annually.

Heartburn is a burning sensation in the chest caused by stomach acid travelling up towards the throat. It can be triggered by overeating, consuming too many rich foods, or excessive alcohol intake - all of which are easy to do over Christmas.

If this is the case, reducing your food and drink intake can help, as can over-the-counter medications like Gaviscon and Rennies. However, if your heartburn persists for weeks, it might be time to consult your GP.

The NHS advises seeing your doctor if you experience heartburn "most days" for three weeks or more, as this could be associated with oesophageal cancer. As the name suggests, this disease originates in the oesophagus - the tube that transports food from your mouth to your stomach.

Consequently, many of the symptoms impact your ability to eat. However, the NHS cautions that these might be "hard to spot". Symptoms affecting your digestion include:

• Having problems swallowing (dysphagia)
• Feeling or being sick
• Heartburn or acid reflux
• Symptoms of indigestion, such as burping a lot.

Other symptoms include:

• A cough that is not getting better
• A hoarse voice
• Loss of appetite or losing weight without trying to
• Feeling tired or having no energy
• Pain in your throat or the middle of your chest, especially when swallowing
• Black poo or coughing up blood (although these are uncommon).

These could be indicative of more serious conditions according to the NHS, which states: "If you have another condition, such as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, you may get symptoms like these regularly."

"You might find you get used to them. But it's important to be checked by a GP if your symptoms change, get worse, or do not feel normal for you."

The NHS says you should see your GP if:

• You have problems swallowing
• You've lost a noticeable amount of weight
• You have heartburn most days that lasts for three weeks or more
• You have symptoms of oesophageal cancer that get worse
• You have a condition that causes digestion symptoms and they're not getting better with your usual treatments.

For persistent vomiting over two days, darkened stool, or pressing concerns regarding oesophageal cancer symptoms, you should call 111 or arrange an urgent GP session. Various factors influence the risk of developing oesophageal cancer, with no definitive cause highlighted; however, certain lifestyle aspects may increase susceptibility.

If you're over the age of 75 (it's not very common in people under 45), a man, or have certain conditions such as long-term, severe acid reflux (gastro-oesophageal reflux disease), or Barrett's oesophagus, you may be at risk.

Many oesophageal cancers are also linked to lifestyle. For instance, being overweight, smoking or excessive alcohol consumption can increase your likelihood of developing it.