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.

There is an outbreak of food poisoning in the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe. Notably, almost all cases are linked to the same strain, thus suggesting a common source of infection. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has confirmed 83 cases of Salmonella Stanley ST2045 in the first week of June, and of these, 20 have been hospitalized.

The ECDC also states that 26 more cases are not sequenced and may also be linked to the outbreak.

As per the health authorities, the cases have been found in nations including the United Kingdom, Austria, Czechia, Estonia, France, Germany, Lithuania, and the Netherlands.

The ECDC has said, “collaborating closely with the affected countries and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)”.

Gauri Godbole, Deputy Director of Gastrointestinal Infections at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), told journalists, “We are supporting an ongoing investigation into an international Salmonella outbreak, with most reported cases occurring in children and young people."

She also added that the current findings are leading the health authorities to the possibility that the source of the outbreak was potentially chicken‑flavoured instant noodles or processed chicken products, or both, as they share ingredients.

“Salmonella generally causes a mild illness, although vulnerable groups with weakened immune systems may experience more severe illness.” She added.

Though ECDC also states that not all cases can be explained by exposure to these instant noodles. They emphasized ongoing investigations into the cases. They added, “Based on what is currently known, the overall risk of Salmonella Stanley infection is assessed as very low for the general population and low for children and young adults, as long as cooking instructions are adhered to.”

What Is Salmonella?

As per the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Salmonella is a group of bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal illness and fever called salmonellosis. It can be spread by food handlers who do not wash their hands and/or the surfaces and tools they use between food preparation steps. It can also happen when people consume uncooked and raw food. Salmonella can also spread from animals to people.

The FDA notes that people who have direct contact with certain animals, including poultry and reptiles, can spread the bacteria from the animal to food if hand washing hygiene is not practiced.

Pets, too, could spread the bacteria within the home environment if they eat food contaminated with Salmonella.

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Common symptoms of Salmonella include:

• diarrhea,
• fever,
• stomach cramps 6 hours to 6 days after being exposed to the bacteria.
• The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment, though in some cases it may lead to hospitalization.

Children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe illness.

Ebola is still showing no sign of slowing down as the patient count is still increasing steadily, and the country that has faced the most adverse effects of this is the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), followed by its neighboring nation, Uganda, but it is still trying to help DRC even while trying to contain the fatal disease within its borders.

Diana Atwine, permanent secretary at Uganda's Ministry of Health, said that Uganda has deployed a team of health workers to DRC to contain the outbreak. She made that statement while she was in a meeting with visiting World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in Kampala.

As per the post by the health ministry of Uganda, it is also setting up 50-bed treatment units to support Ebola response efforts in eastern DRC, which is considered the epicenter of the disease.

What Is The Current Situation Of Ebola In Africa?

The situation regarding the outbreak of Ebola is nowhere near slowing down, and the World Health Organization (WHO) said that this outbreak of Ebola is far from under control. The outbreak of the disease in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and neighboring Uganda has already reached the 500 mark.

On Saturday, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) reported that its total number of Ebola cases had increased to 488 from 515 cases and caused 91 deaths. Its neighbor, Uganda, also has reported 19 cases.

This time, the Ebola outbreak has caused most harm to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and during this mayhem, its neighboring nation, Uganda, which is also fighting to contain the disease as it is also seeing a surge in cases, has completely closed off its western border with DRC.

The worsening condition of the situation is clear, as the global health monitoring organization, the World Health Organization (WHO), has already declared the outbreak an international public health emergency.

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What Is Ebola?

Ebola is a severe and deadly disease caused by a virus mostly found in Africa. The spread of the disease happens through contact with infected body fluids.

Some symptoms can indicate a possible infection. This includes fever, headache, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain, sore throat, and unexplained bleeding. This eventually leads to severe complications like bleeding, organ failure, and death.

Ebola is a highly lethal viral hemorrhagic fever first identified in 1976. Over the past five decades, it has caused over 30 outbreaks, primarily in Central and West Africa. The virus takes its name from the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Three strains of the virus — Ebola virus, Sudan virus, and Bundibugyo virus — have caused the largest outbreaks in Africa. Among them, the Ebola virus is considered the deadliest, with fatality rates reaching up to 90% without treatment.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is preparing to announce a crackdown on children's access to social media within days. A speech from the prime minister, which is expected to include a new policy on social media, is planned for next week.

The UK is the latest country considering restrictions on social media use among those under the age of 16 amid growing concerns about mental health, online abuse, and child protection.

Several countries have introduced or proposed regulations on children's access to social media as concerns mount over the impact of these platforms on young people's health and safety.

A look at the countries planning to implement social media ban:

Australia: Banned social media for children under 16, including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

China: Uses a "minor mode" system that limits screen time and access based on a child's age.

Denmark: Plans to ban social media for children under 15, with limited parental exceptions for those aged 13–14.

France: Approved a bill to ban social media for children under 15, pending final legislative approval.

Germany: Children aged 13–16 can use social media only with parental consent.

Greece: Preparing to introduce a social media ban for children under 15.

India: Karnataka has banned social media for children under 16. Other states like Andhra Pradesh, Goa, and Bihar are considering age restrictions.

Italy: Children under 14 need parental consent to create social media accounts.

Malaysia: Barred users under 16 from registering new social media accounts.

Norway: Proposed raising the minimum age for social media consent from 13 to 15 and introducing a 15-year minimum age limit.

Poland: Drafted legislation to ban social media for children under 15 and require age verification.

Slovenia: Preparing a law that would prohibit social media access for children under 15.

Spain: Plans to ban social media access for minors under 16 and require age verification.

Sweden: A government commission has recommended a minimum social media age of 15.

Turkey: Passed legislation banning social media use by children under 15.

United States: Several states require parental consent for minors, while federal legislation seeks stronger protections for young users.

European Union: Considering stricter child safety rules, including parental consent for under-16s and a ban for children under 13.

Will A Blanket Ban on Social Media Work?

Also read: Is India Set To Implement A Social Media Ban For Children?

Blocking children from social media is no substitute for making platforms safe in the first place, the UN human rights office warned last month.

"Online harms to children's safety, privacy, and wellbeing result from design choices and business practices that undermine safety, including addictive features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, and persistent notifications," said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.

Türk cautioned that such bans can be easily circumvented and risk pushing children towards riskier, less-monitored spaces.

"Simply limiting access to platforms that remain unsafe cannot stand as the endpoint," he said.

The UN Office also issued a 10-point framework urging governments and technology companies to go further and faster in protecting children online. The guidelines, titled Getting Children's Safety Online Right, come as age-based social media restrictions proliferate worldwide. It includes:

• Embedding child safety measures directly into platform design from the outset.

• Not leaving parents and children solely responsible for managing online risks.

• Conducting mandatory child-rights impact assessments for digital platforms.

• Implementing tightly regulated age-verification systems to protect privacy.

• Consulting children meaningfully when developing online safety regulations and policies.

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"The intent to protect young minds from addiction, misinformation, and harmful content is welcome. However, effectiveness will depend less on restricting children and more on regulating platforms," Dr. Rajendra Pratap Gupta, Chairman of Health Parliament, creator of SHE App, and former adviser to the Union Health Minister, told HealthandMe.

"Stronger platform accountability, age-appropriate design, and algorithmic responsibility are crucial. Combined with digital literacy and parental awareness, oversight and control, such measures can create a healthier digital ecosystem. Without platform control, regulations risk remaining largely symbolic," Dr. Gupta said.

With inputs from Reuters