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.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) — a progressive condition in which the kidneys become permanently damaged and lose their ability to filter blood effectively — affects an estimated 788 million to 844 million adults worldwide, according to new research published by The Lancet journal today.

The three-part research series, led by global teams from India, the UK, China, Austria, and other countries, projects CKD to become the fifth leading cause of death globally by 2040.

Experts identified limited access to testing, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, the absence of symptoms in the early stages of the disease, and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases as key factors driving the rise in CKD cases worldwide. They also called for sustained investment in diagnosis, treatment, and healthcare infrastructure to address the growing challenge.

CKD: Underdiagnosis and Lack of Symptoms

The researchers stressed that significant underdiagnosis of chronic kidney disease is a key factor endangering millions of patients worldwide.

Another concern is that mild and moderate stages of the disease often go undetected. Symptoms may develop only in the most severe stages, close to the time when dialysis or a kidney transplant may be required. Without successful treatment, the condition can be fatal.

The lack of symptoms likely contributes to low rates of diagnosis and awareness, said the experts in the research.

"Chronic kidney disease remains one of the most concerning conditions currently impacting global health. The overriding message from our series of research papers is that there remains a pressing need for attention and resources to be focused on this condition," said lead author Dr. Jennifer Lees, Senior Clinical Research Fellow at the University of Glasgow, UK.

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"There is huge potential to improve early diagnosis, treatment, and healthy lifespan by testing urine for protein routinely across a range of healthcare settings. This may be particularly important in those most at risk of underdiagnosis, including non-white populations and women," she added.

CKD And NCD Burden

The three research papers, presented at the ongoing European Renal Association Congress in Glasgow, Scotland, highlight that diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and cardiovascular disease are among the major drivers of CKD, with the risk of developing the disease increasing with age.

While CKD can affect anyone, it is more common in people who are Black or of South Asian origin. Compared with those without the condition, people with chronic kidney disease are more likely to be hospitalized, develop complications while in hospital, and be readmitted.

The studies also highlighted differences in diagnosis and treatment between men and women, alongside the need for integrated approaches to CKD prevention and treatment across a range of healthcare settings.

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Call For Greater Investment In Kidney Care

The experts called for a renewed focus on CKD diagnosis and treatment.

"Chronic kidney disease affects 844 million people worldwide, yet access to even basic kidney testing remains deeply uneven," said Professor Luxia Zhang from Peking University, China.

"Advances in biomarkers, biopsy, and genetic testing now allow us to understand why an individual has kidney disease, not just that they have it. Realizing this benefit for patients everywhere will require sustained investment in diagnostics, laboratory capacity, and workforce," Zhang added.

In a major relief amid the ongoing Ebola outbreak, the World Health Organization (WHO) said the number of suspected cases has dropped to 116 after hundreds were ruled out following investigation.

Earlier, the number of suspected cases had neared 1,000 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The global health agency said on Tuesday that there had been 48 deaths and six recoveries in Congo, Reuters reported.

In Uganda, there have been nine confirmed cases and one associated death, WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier told reporters in Geneva.

Later, Uganda's Ministry of Health confirmed six additional Ebola cases, bringing the country's total number of confirmed infections to 15.

The ministry said in a statement on X that all six newly confirmed cases were among contacts of previously confirmed patients.

Hundreds Of Suspected Cases Ruled Out

Lindmeier explained that the latest figures were significantly lower because hundreds of suspected cases had been discounted after further investigation.

"They have been cleared out and have either other diseases or have just had a fever and nothing else," he said.

Lindmeier added that the numbers would continue to fluctuate as more people are tested.

A suspected case includes anyone identified through surveillance systems or presenting with symptoms at a health facility. Confirmed cases include only those who test positive for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.

Last week, the WHO reported 906 suspected Bundibugyo Ebola cases in Congo, including 223 suspected deaths under investigation.

Subsequently, Jean Kaseya, Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, told the Financial Times that more than 1,100 suspected cases were being investigated.

Testing has posed a major challenge during the outbreak because the commonly used Ebola diagnostic tests initially failed to detect the Bundibugyo strain, for which there is currently no approved vaccine.

Meanwhile, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website also listed 116 suspected cases and noted: "On May 29, the DRC Ministry of Health updated their total suspect case count to remove suspected cases that have been ruled out after investigation and suspected deaths that are pending the results of ongoing investigation."

Kenyans Protest Proposed US Ebola Treatment Facility

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The United States' plan to establish an Ebola treatment facility in Kenya has sparked public concern about cross-border infection risks and triggered protests.

The proposed 50-bed isolation centre would be staffed by US medical personnel and is intended to treat US citizens affected by the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Asked about the proposal during a White House briefing, Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said keeping affected Americans closer to the outbreak zone would help speed up treatment.

"You have a golden hour in many of these instances around trauma, but for illnesses, it’s also relatively short, so we are confident, and the State Department’s working on this diligently, that they are going to be able to work out something with Kenya. There has already been a fair amount of communication around this issue," Oz said.

Although Kenya has not recorded any Ebola cases, the proposed quarantine facility has raised fears among residents who believe it could increase the risk of exposure to the virus.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the UK. The country records around 55,000 new prostate cancer cases and nearly 12,000 deaths every year.

Although the UK recently ruled out universal prostate cancer screening, opting instead for targeted screening of high-risk men, new cases continue to emerge every day. The latest high-profile figures diagnosed with the disease are former Liverpool winger John Barnes and comedian Bobby Davro.

John Barnes Calls Prostate Cancer A ‘Taboo Subject’

Barnes revealed that he had his prostate removed following a cancer diagnosis and described the condition as a "taboo subject" for men.

"Not many people know and it’s a bit of a taboo subject because we support women with breast cancer and it’s not even an issue," he told Times Radio.

Barnes stressed that "a lot of men don’t want to admit it or want to have it done because it makes them feel less than a man."

He added: "Men have to bite the bullet and swallow their pride and admit if they have problems."

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Bobby Davro Reveals Symptom Before Diagnosis

Meanwhile, 67-year-old Bobby Davro spoke on This Morning about his diagnosis, revealing that he had experienced erectile dysfunction beforehand.

Speaking on the ITV show, Davro said: "I think one in eight men get it. I think a lot of men of color, they get more prostate cancer, so it’s got to be checked.

"So go along and have your PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) checked, have the old prostate examined."

Davro continued: "He [the doctor] said: 'It’s a bit swollen, I think you should go and have a PSA test.' And it was 24, which wasn’t good at all."

"Not really. The only thing I had was erectile dysfunction. It wasn’t nice. I tried taking the blue pills. I realised something wasn’t quite right," he said about symptom before diagnosis.

Many other high-profile figures have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, including former UK Prime Minister David Cameron, BBC radio host Bob Harris, and six-time Olympic gold medalist Chris Hoy.

Despite the high burden of disease, the UK currently has no national prostate cancer screening program because of concerns over the accuracy of PSA tests. However, there has been growing pressure in recent years to introduce routine screening.

Read More: Benjamin Netanyahu Undergoes Treatment For Early-stage Prostate Cancer

What Do The New Guidelines Say?

After reviewing the latest evidence, the National Screening Committee (NSC) recommended against broad population-wide screening for prostate cancer.

The committee said the harms of screening outweigh the benefits for most groups. The final guidance states that routine screening should not be offered to:

• All men
• Black men, despite their risk being nearly double that of the general population
• Men with a family history of prostate cancer, as the disease is common enough that family history alone does not sufficiently narrow risk

Who Is Eligible For Targeted Screening?

Instead, the NSC recommends:

• Targeted prostate cancer screening involving PSA testing every two years for men aged 45 to 61
• Screening only for men who carry a pathogenic BRCA2 gene variant
• Screening for those who also have a family history of breast, ovarian, pancreatic, or prostate cancer

Symptoms To Watch For

The prostate is a small walnut-shaped gland in men that produces seminal fluid, which nourishes and transports sperm. Prostate cancer develops when abnormal cells begin growing in the gland.

Common symptoms include:

• Blood in the urine or semen
• Difficulty urinating
• Erectile dysfunction
• Reduced force in the urine stream
• Bone pain
• Unexplained weight loss.