How fast does esophageal cancer develop?

for a number of years my father complained of pain about mid sternum. He had high blood pressure and cholesterol. He was considered to have heart issues. In 2007 he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer at the juncture of his esophagus and stomach after having episodes of inability to swallow his food. Whenever he was asked during his treatment with chemo and radiation (surgery was performed and the cancer had metastasized), his only complaint of pain was in the same spot that he'd complained about before. Is there a chance that the original pain was a slow growing cancer of the esophagus? All cardiac tests (including catherization) came out clean. He died 9 months after his diagnosis. Thankfully for the ministrations of hospice, in relative peace.