Stomach cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the lining of the stomach. Also, known as Gastric cancer, it affects the elderly more than the adult. According to the American Cancer Society, about 6 of every 10 people diagnosed with stomach cancer each year are 65 or older. Also, the lifetime risk of developing stomach cancer is higher in men (about 1 in 101) than in women (about 1 in 155).

A health expert, speaking to a leading media house, emphasized five common symptoms of stomach cancer that should not be ignored:

1. Unexplained weight loss: Losing weight without trying or experiencing an unexplained drop in appetite, which may signal cancer progression.

2. Pain in the upper part of the abdomen: Persistent or occasional pain in the stomach area, often after eating, can become more severe as the condition progresses.

3. Frequent vomiting after meals: Nausea, sometimes accompanied by vomiting, may occur especially after meals and is linked to cancer blocking or irritating the stomach.

4. Vomiting blood, which may appear coffee-colored: This can indicate bleeding in the stomach, often caused by ulcers or tumors, and requires immediate medical attention.

5. Black, tarry stools: This occurs when blood from the stomach is digested and passed through the intestines, signaling potential internal bleeding

There are also other concerning signs that should not be overlooked such as jaundice, unexplained weight loss, early onset of diabetes, dark stools, and loss of appetite. Health experts strongly advise seeking immediate medical attention if you notice any of these symptoms. If you or a loved one experience these signs, it's crucial to visit a physician for a thorough evaluation to rule out serious underlying health conditions.

How Does Stomach Cancer Spread?

Oncologist Dr Pankaj Kumar Pande, Director–Surgical Oncology, Max Super Specialty Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, Delhi explained that this form of cancer spreads through three main pathways: Direct spread, lymphatic spread, and bloodstream.

1. Direct Spread: In its early stages, stomach cancer can invade nearby tissues and grow into the deeper layers of the stomach or spread to surrounding organs such as the oesophagus, liver, pancreas, or intestines.

2. Lymphatic Spread: Cancer cells can travel through the lymphatic system. The most common areas affected are the regional lymph nodes near the stomach, particularly those around the liver and diaphragm.

3. Bloodstream: "Cancer cells can enter the bloodstream and travel to distant parts of the body," which is a common route for stomach cancer to metastasize to distant organs.

He further explained that cancerous cells spread from the original tumour to other parts of the body through a process called Metastasis. The most common sites for the spread are the liver, lymph nodes, peritoneum, lungs, bones, and ovaries.

Wegovy pill by Novo Nordisk is now under scrutiny after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) raised concerns over a television advertisement. FDA said that the commercial includes "false and misleading" claims about the obesity drug's benefits.

In a letter (reported first by Bloomberg) dated February 5, the FDA said the advertisement misbrands the oral weight loss drug. FDA said that it made its distribution a potential violation of federal law. FDA has asked the Danish drugmaker to take immediate corrective action, which include:

• Pulling the ad
• Revising all advertisements that contain misleading statements

Wegovy Pill: FDA Questions Claims of Superiority and Emotional Benefits

As per the letter, the FDA found that the ad misleadingly suggests the Wegovy pill offers superior benefits when compared to other approved GLP-1 weight loss drugs. The regulator flagged phrases such as “live lighter” and “a way forward,” saying they imply greater weight loss and added advantages without evidence to support those claims.

The FDA also took issue with what it describes as emotional and psychological messaging, saying that the ad appears to imply benefits beyond physical weight loss, including emotional relief, reduced psychological burden, hope, or direction in life. FDA notes that this claim positions the drug as a solution to broader life challenges rather than just a treatment to obesity.

Furthermore, FDA said that the ad failed to adequately present risk information in both audio and text formats, which is mandatory requirement for television drug advertising.

Wegovy Pill: Novo Nordisk Responds To FDA Notice

Novo Nordisk confirmed on Monday that it has received the FDA’s letter. The company clarified that while the advertisement has been running since the pill’s launch, it is not linked to its Super Bowl advertising.

“We take all regulatory feedback seriously and are in the process of responding to the FDA to address their concerns regarding the advertisement’s presentation,” said Liz Skrbkova, Novo Nordisk’s head of US media and stakeholder relations, in a statement.

Novo Nordisk is already under pressure to defend its position in the weight loss market, as it is facing a stiff competition from rival Eli Lilly. Furthermore, on Monday, Novo also filed a lawsuit against telehealth company Hims & Hers, seeking to block the mass marketing of compounded versions of its Wegovy pill and injections.

Read: Wegovy Pills Now Available At Your Pharmacies, Here's What To Know About Its Usage

Wegovy Pill: How Effective Is It?

After injection by Novo Nordisk, of the same name, Wegovy, which has been on the market since 2021, its popularity grew so much that it was in short supply until February 2025. The pill version has now come out, which many experts believe will expand its accessibility. As the monthly supply of pill is expected to be cheaper than the monthly supply of the weight loss injection.

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine show that a 25 milligram Wegovy pill led to 13.6% reduction in weight on average over 64 weeks. When compared to placebo, the result was only 2.2% of weight loss. Novo Nordisk says that those who stayed on the treatment and reduced their calorie intake, it would lead to a loss of 16.6% of their weight.

Wegovy Pill: What Are The Side Effects?

Digestive problems such as nausea and vomiting remain the most common side effects of GLP-1 drugs. These issues were also reported in studies of the pill versions. Around 7 percent of participants taking the Wegovy pill stopped treatment because of side effects, compared with 6 percent in the placebo group. In orforglipron’s trial, up to 10 percent of patients discontinued treatment, compared with 3 percent on placebo.

One key difference lies in how the medications are used. The Wegovy pill must be taken on an empty stomach with a small amount of water. Patients are advised not to eat, drink, or take other medicines for at least 30 minutes afterward. Doctors say this requirement has limited the use of Rybelsus, the pill form of semaglutide approved for diabetes, compared with Ozempic.

Two years before Jeffrey Epstein killed himself in his New York jail cell, he claimed that US President Donald Trump may be suffering from dementia.

The United States Department of Justice recently released more of the harrowing Epstein Files that lift the lid on years' worth of horrific crimes committed by the convicted American child sex offender, serial rapist and human trafficker.

Among the files, eagle eyed readers found an email sent to journalist and Trump biographer Michael Wolff on Dec. 29, 2017, where Epstein claimed that Trump has begun showing signs of memory loss during his first presidency after he failed to recognize some of his own friends.

In the email to the Landslide author, the convict wrote: "Some at dinner with donald last night, were concerned about dementia. tons of makeup. did not recognize old friends.”

And Epstein isn't alone. Former White House chief strategist and Trump associate, Steve Bannon allegedly believed the president had "early-stage dementia," according to former 60 Minutes producer Ira Rosen’s book Ticking Clock.

Bannon claimed that Donald “had no attention span, didn't read, and now doesn't listen. He said Donald repeats himself a lot, telling the same story minutes after he told it before," per Rosen's account, which the former chief strategist later denied.

The producer also claimed in the book that “Bannon tried to build support to have Trump removed” from office due to his concerns.

Family Members Say Trump Has Dementia

Mary Trump, a well-known critic of her uncle who frequently speaks about him on her YouTube channel, has implied that he could be suffering from Alzheimer's disease, noting similarities to her late grandfather, who also suffered from the neurodegenerative disease.

As per UK Express, Mary highlighted that she has seen resemblances to Fred Trump, Donald's late father and former real estate magnate, who battled Alzheimer’s before passing away in 1999 at the age of 93.

Speaking last year, Mary recounted witnessing her grandfather’s decline and suggested that Donald sometimes doesn’t seem “oriented,” pointing to a particular look. Talking about her grandfather, she told New York Magazine: "One of the first times I noticed it was at some event where he was being honored. And I looked at him and saw this deer-in-the-headlights look, like he had no idea where he was."

In further remarks, Mary said she now notices what the publication described as “flashes” of her grandfather in her uncle when she sees him on stage, pointing out the same “deer-in-the-headlights” expression.

She added: "Sometimes it does not seem like he's aware of time or place. And on occasion, I do see that deer-in-the-headlights look."

Trump Rejects Memory Loss Claims

Despite multiple reports, Trump and his team have consistently rejected such claims, noting that he has “aced” three cognitive tests and there is no possibility of him having Alzheimer's disease.

In a conversation with the New York Magazine, Trump also reflected on his father’s diagnosis: "He had one problem. At a certain age, about 86, 87, he started getting what do they call it?"

His press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, supplied the term for Trump, who referred to it as an “Alzheimer’s thing,” asserting that he did not “have it.” The health of the 79-year-old has been the subject of much public speculation recently, with observers noting bruises on his hands, what appear to be swollen ankles, and rambling speech.

READ MORE: New FDA Approved Blood Test Can Predict Alzheimer’s Disease Before Symptoms Appear

What Is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer's disease is one of the most common forms of dementia and mostly affects adults over the age of 65.

About 8.8 million Indians aged 60 and above are estimated to being living with Alzheimer's disease. Over seven million people in the US 65 and older live with the condition and over 100,00 die from it annually.

Alzheimer's disease is believed to be caused by the development of toxic amyloid and beta proteins in the brain, which can accumulate in the brain and damage cells responsible for memory.

Amyloid protein molecules stick together in brain cells, forming clumps called plaques. At the same time, tau proteins twist together in fiber-like strands called tangles. The plaques and tangles block the brain's neurons from sending electrical and chemical signals back and forth.

Over time, this disruption causes permanent damage in the brain that leads to Alzheimer's disease and dementia, causing patients to lose their ability to speak, care for themselves or even respond to the world around them.

While there is no clear cause of Alzheimer's disease, experts believe it can develop due to genetic mutations and lifestyle choices, such as physical inactivity, unhealthy diet and social isolation.

Early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease include forgetting recent events or conversations. Over time, Alzheimer's disease leads to serious memory loss and affects a person's ability to do everyday tasks.

There is no cure to this progressive brain disorder and in advanced stages, loss of brain function can cause dehydration, poor nutrition or infection. These complications can result in death.

Health officials in Washington, D.C. are warning that confirmed cases of measles may have spread during this year’s National March for Life rally and related events held in the capital late January. The annual anti-abortion gathering drew thousands of people to the National Mall and surrounding areas, raising concerns about potential large-scale exposure.

The D.C. Department of Health said it is actively working to identify individuals who may be at risk after learning that several people who later tested positive for measles were present in the city while contagious.

“DC Health was notified of multiple confirmed cases of measles whose carriers visited multiple locations in the District while contagious,” the agency said in a statement on Sunday. Officials are now contacting people who were at those locations during the exposure window.

Measles In DC: Transit Hubs and Campuses Among Exposure Sites

According to DC Health, potential exposure sites span a wide range of busy public locations between January 21 and February 2. These include Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Union Station, an Amtrak Northeast Regional train, and multiple stops within the city’s Metro subway system.

Health officials also flagged visits to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and Catholic University as part of the exposure timeline. Given the volume of visitors moving through these spaces daily, authorities say the risk of wider spread cannot be ruled out.

Measles In DC: Hospital Issues Public Health Notice

Children’s National Hospital has also issued a public health notice after a confirmed measles patient from Virginia visited its Emergency Department on February 2 while infectious. The hospital said it is coordinating with public health authorities to identify and notify anyone who may have been exposed during that time.

Measles is highly contagious and can remain airborne for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area, making hospital settings particularly vulnerable.

Measles In DC: Surge Across the United States

The situation in Washington comes as the United States faces its largest measles outbreak in decades. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 733 confirmed cases have been reported across 20 states so far this year. The CDC says about 95 percent of those cases involve people who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown.

South Carolina remains one of the hardest-hit states. Its outbreak began in October 2025 and has now surpassed earlier outbreaks elsewhere in the country. State health officials reported 44 new cases on Friday, bringing the total to 920. While the pace of new cases has slowed slightly, officials continue to warn of possible exposure at public places such as a Target store in Taylors and a Social Security Administration office in Spartanburg, where the outbreak is centered.

Measles In DC: Vaccination Urged Amid Global Concern

Speaking on CNN’s State of the Union, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz urged Americans to get vaccinated against measles. While recent federal policy changes have rolled back recommendations for some vaccines, guidance on measles immunization remains unchanged.

International health authorities are also watching closely. The World Health Organization’s Pan American Health Organization has invited U.S. officials to a meeting in April to review the country’s measles elimination status, which is now under threat.

D.C. health officials are urging anyone who may have been exposed and is not fully vaccinated, pregnant, or immunocompromised to contact a healthcare provider immediately.