What referral criteria should I follow for patients with suspected oesophageal cancer?

Referral criteria for suspected oesophageal cancer:

• Refer people using a suspected cancer pathway referral if they have dysphagia.
• Refer people aged 55 years and over with weight loss and any of the following symptoms: upper abdominal pain, reflux, or dyspepsia.
• Consider non-urgent direct access upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for people with haematemesis.
• Consider non-urgent direct access upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for people aged 55 years or over with treatment-resistant dyspepsia, upper abdominal pain with low haemoglobin, or raised platelet count combined with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, weight loss, reflux, dyspepsia, or upper abdominal pain.

These referrals should be made urgently, aiming for assessment within 2 weeks, to facilitate early diagnosis and management.