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.

The Trump administration recently launched an initiative, encouraging hospitals across the United States to improve the quality of the meals they serve in terms of nutrition.

Launching the voluntary initiative aimed at making healthier meals more accessible to patients, visitors, and healthcare workers, the announcement was made by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

About ‘Make Hospital Food Healthier’ Pledge

The initiative, announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is part of Trump administration's “Make Hospital Food Healthier” pledge.

Hospitals that participate commit to offering more nutritious food and beverage options, increasing transparency around nutritional information, and creating food environments that better support long-term health.

Health officials say hospitals should set an example by promoting healthy eating rather than offering meals and snacks that are high in sugar, sodium, and saturated fats.

HHS said while announcing the initiative, “Healthcare facilities should reflect the same evidence-based nutrition principles they encourage patients to follow after they leave the hospital.”

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Under the voluntary pledge, participating hospitals are encouraged to:

• Increase the availability of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and minimally processed and plant-based protein options.
• Include vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, seeds, seafood, and healthy fats.
• Reduce the prominence of sugary drinks and ultra-processed snacks.
• Use baked, broiled, roasted, stir-fried, or grilled preparation methods and avoid deep frying.
• Make healthier meals easier to identify through nutrition labeling and clear menu information.
• Improve cafeteria and vending machine offerings for employees and visitors.
• Incorporate nutrition into overall patient wellness and recovery plans.

The administration says these changes will help create healthier food environments while supporting the prevention of chronic diseases like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

The Goal Behind

Millions of Americans eat meals in hospitals each year, whether as patients, family members, or healthcare workers. Public health experts have always argued that hospitals should encourage eating habits instead of relying heavily on processed foods and sugar-sweetened beverages.

Improving hospital food can also benefit healthcare staff, who often work long shifts and depend on hospital cafeterias and vending machines for meals.

The initiative supports the idea that nutrition plays a significant role in preventing and managing chronic illnesses, which remain one of the leading causes of death and healthcare spending in the United States.

The HHS pledge is voluntary, meaning hospitals are not required to participate. Instead, the department is encouraging health systems to adopt healthier food standards as part of their commitment to patient care and community health.

Officials say hospitals that join the pledge can help reinforce healthy lifestyle choices beyond clinical treatment by making nutritious foods more readily available throughout their facilities.

While the program does not mandate specific dietary standards, it represents another step in Trump administration's broader effort to promote healthier eating environments within healthcare settings.

As more hospitals sign on, health officials hope the initiative will have a positive impact on how healthcare institutions approach nutrition, turning hospitals into places that support healthy choices both inside and outside the examination room.

Paxlovid, the oral antiviral used to treat COVID-19, appears to be safe and well-tolerated in children aged 6 years and older, according to a new study.

The study, published in the journal Pediatrics, Paxlovid is safe for children who weigh at least 44 pounds who have mild to moderate COVID-19 but are at risk of developing severe disease. The drug did not cause any serious safety concerns.

Paxlovid was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for adults in 2023 and is currently authorized for children 12 years and older who weigh at least 88 pounds (40 kg). The new findings suggest the treatment could also be appropriate for younger children, although the study does not represent a new FDA approval for children aged 6 to 11 years.

What Are The Key Findings

The Pfizer-led study enrolled 75 children aged 6 to 17 years, all of whom received at least one dose of Paxlovid. Participants were divided into two dosing groups based on body weight.

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Researchers found that:

• Both dosing regimens were safe and well tolerated.

• No serious adverse events were reported.

• About 90 per cent of participants achieved blood concentrations associated with antiviral activity in adults.

• No child was hospitalized or died from COVID-19 during the study.

• No participant discontinued treatment because of side effects.

The most commonly reported side effects were:

• Diarrhea (4 per cent)

• Headache (4 per cent)

The researchers concluded that the pediatric dosing regimens produced drug exposures similar to adults while maintaining a favorable safety profile.

"Given the continued burden of disease in pediatric patients, even in a post-pandemic era, a convenient outpatient oral treatment option for preventing severe disease in individuals with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 continues to be an unmet medical need," the authors wrote.

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How Paxlovid Works

Paxlovid is a combination of two medicines:

• Nirmatrelvir, which blocks a key viral enzyme needed for SARS-CoV-2 to replicate.

• Ritonavir, which slows the breakdown of nirmatrelvir in the body, allowing it to remain effective for longer.

Clinical trials in adults have shown that Paxlovid remains one of the most effective outpatient treatments for people at high risk of severe COVID-19.

In a pivotal placebo-controlled trial:

• 9 of 977 people who received Paxlovid within five days of symptom onset were hospitalized, and none died.

• In the placebo group, 64 of 989 people were hospitalized, and 12 died from any cause.

Overall, Paxlovid reduced the risk of COVID-19-related hospitalization or death by 86 per cent in high-risk adults.

Possible Side effects

The FDA first granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Paxlovid in 2021.

Known side effects include:

• Altered or metallic taste (dysgeusia)

• Diarrhea

• High blood pressure (hypertension)

The medication can also interact with several commonly used medicines, including statins, making it important for patients to discuss all current medications with their healthcare provider before starting treatment, the FDA said.

Tampons contain trace amounts of arsenic, lead and other metals, but they are not released at levels that pose a health risk, according to a new study by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Published in the peer-reviewed journal Toxicological Sciences, the study found that while 19 metals—including arsenic, cadmium and lead—were detected in tampons, “the amount released during use is too small to cause harm”.

The FDA said the findings are consistent with an earlier independent systematic literature review it commissioned.

What Did The FDA Study Find?

The FDA evaluated 11 tampon products legally marketed in the United States to determine whether trace metals present in the products could be released during use and whether they posed any toxicological risk.

Researchers measured metal levels using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). To assess the maximum possible release, tampons were tested under exaggerated laboratory conditions by placing them in acidified water at 50°C (122°F) for 24 hours, simulating a worst-case exposure scenario.

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The study detected 19 metals, including:

• Arsenic
• Cadmium
• Lead
• Titanium
• Calcium
• Iron
• Lithium
• Zinc

"Based on the in-depth toxicological risk assessment, all detected metals had margins of safety indicating that there is negligible toxicological concern from the presence of metals in tampon materials," the researchers wrote.

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How Are Metals Present In Tampons?

According to the FDA, trace metals may enter tampon materials naturally because plants such as cotton absorb minerals and metals from the soil. Some metals may also be introduced unintentionally during manufacturing.

Researchers noted that titanium dioxide, which is sometimes used to whiten tampons, may explain the presence of titanium in certain products.

In October 2025, the FDA issued a draft guidance titled, Menstrual Products — Performance Testing and Labeling Recommendations.

This draft guidance provides recommendations to industry to support the safety and effectiveness of menstrual products, including recommendations for evaluating these products for contaminants and promoting transparency in menstrual product ingredients.

What Is a Tampon Made Of?

Tampons are typically made of cotton, rayon, or a blend of the two. While rayon-based tampons generally contained higher levels of lithium and zinc, cotton-rich tampons had higher concentrations of calcium and iron.

Despite these differences, the FDA concluded that exposure from all products tested remained well below levels of health concern.

Single-use vs Reusable Tampons

The FDA emphasized that only single-use tampons are authorized for sale in the United States. The agency discourages the use of reusable tampons because they may carry a higher risk of infections, including:

• Yeast infections
• Fungal infections
• Bacterial infections

The FDA regulates menstrual products as medical devices but has limited authority over their composition. While tampons undergo a premarket review process, the agency doesn't approve individual materials used in these products.

The FDA's primary focus regarding menstrual products has been on addressing the risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). They have implemented labeling requirements and educational campaigns to minimize this risk. However, the recent findings of heavy metals in tampons highlight a potential gap in regulatory oversight.