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.

After previously warning that Ebola was "outpacing us," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Thursday that "we are catching up" as efforts to contain the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo show progress.

A total of 381 Ebola cases have been confirmed in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including 63 deaths. Uganda has reported 16 confirmed cases. Meanwhile, the number of suspected cases has fallen from more than 1,000 last week to 116 as health teams work through the backlog.

WHO Sees Signs of Progress

“What I saw gave me hope,” Ghebreyesus said at a press conference.

“The outbreak had a big head start, and we're still behind, but under the leadership of the Government of DRC, we are catching up,” he added.

Importantly, he noted that six people in the DRC and two in Uganda have recovered to date, “showing that people can survive Ebola if they have access to care and go to health facilities as soon as they show symptoms.”

Why Are Patients Recovering?

The latest outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is currently neither a vaccine nor an antiviral treatment. So how are patients recovering?

Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, Co-Chairman of the National IMA COVID Task Force and Past President of the Indian Medical Association, Cochin, told HealthandMe that a combination of factors—including the virus strain, access to medical care, and individual immune responses—can significantly influence whether a patient survives the disease.

Ebola virus disease is a severe illness caused by different strains of the Ebola virus. The current outbreak is linked to the Bundibugyo strain, which has a lower mortality rate than the more lethal Zaire strain responsible for several previous outbreaks, he said.

“The mortality of Ebola virus disease is tied to several components,” Dr. Rajeev explained.

Early Medical Care Improves Survival

One of the most important factors is access to early medical attention and supportive care. Patients who receive prompt treatment at well-equipped healthcare facilities staffed by experienced healthcare workers have a much greater chance of survival.

However, such healthcare access is often limited in outbreak-affected regions of Africa due to ongoing conflicts and socioeconomic challenges.

“The chance of survival is much higher if a person receives good medical attention and early supportive care,” he said.

Bundibugyo Strain vs Zaire Strain

Also read: Ebola Bundibugyo Strain: All You Should Know About The Rare Virus

The strain of the virus also plays a critical role. Dr. Rajeev said that because the Bundibugyo strain is less lethal than the Zaire strain, more infected individuals are expected to survive under similar conditions.

“If a hundred people get infected with the Zaire strain and another hundred with the Bundibugyo strain, more people in the Bundibugyo group will survive, all other conditions remaining the same,” he said.

Difference In Immune Response

Another important factor is the body's immune response, which varies from person to person. Dr. Rajeev highlighted the role of human leukocyte antigens (HLA), proteins that help the immune system recognize and respond to invading pathogens. Because each individual's HLA profile is unique, people infected with the same virus can generate different immune responses.

“HLA works closely with the immune system by presenting pieces of the virus to immune cells, helping the body build a targeted response,” he said.

Also read: Ebola Alert In India: Rajasthan, Hyderabad Report Suspected Cases of Deadly Virus

This biological diversity is one reason why the same infection can affect individuals differently. It is also considered an evolutionary safeguard that helps prevent a single pathogen from devastating the entire human population.

The Role of Probability

Dr. Rajeev also pointed to a simple statistical reality. “If the mortality rate in the current outbreak is around 30 per cent, that means about 70 per cent of infected individuals are expected to survive,” he said.

According to the expert, survival often results from a combination of favorable factors, including infection with a less lethal strain, timely medical care, a strong immune response, and the overall probability of recovery within a given outbreak.

The UK National Health Service (NHS) has approved the free rollout of a breakthrough ovarian cancer drug, benefiting hundreds of women with hard-to-treat cancer starting today.

Importantly, the US FDA-approved drug is the first new addition to NHS treatment for this group of patients in over 20 years.

The last major NHS treatment introduced for these patients was the rollout of liposomal doxorubicin and paclitaxel in the early 2000s.

The NHS, in a statement, said that the new targeted therapy, mirvetuximab soravtansine, will be offered to patients living with ovarian cancer whose disease has stopped responding to standard (platinum-based) chemotherapy, providing new hope of extra time to live.

Mirvetuximab soravtansine (Elahere) has been developed by AbbVie. The NHS estimates up to 400 patients in England each year could benefit.

“This represents the most significant breakthrough in NHS treatment for these hard-to-treat ovarian cancers in over two decades – and we’re delighted it will now offer hundreds of women much-needed hope of precious extra time with their loved ones,” said Professor Ruth Plummer, NHS national clinical lead for cancer drugs.

How Does The Drug Work?

According to the NHS, the drug combines a ‘homing’ antibody with a cancer-killing medicine, often described by scientists as a ‘biological missile’ or ‘Trojan horse’ therapy.

It works by attaching to ovarian cancer cells that have a protein called folate receptor alpha (FRα) on their surface, before releasing a cancer-killing molecule that destroys the cell from within.

In a major global clinical trial involving eight NHS hospitals, the treatment delayed cancer progression and prolonged survival, with patients living 16.5 months on average compared to 12.8 months with chemotherapy.

Also read: New Pancreatic Cancer Drug Daxaronrasib May Benefit Patients With Lung And Ovarian Tumors Too

Who Can Avail The Drug Through The NHS?

Following a recommendation by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the treatment will be available for:

• patients with epithelial ovarian cancer,
• peritoneal or fallopian tube cancer that has become resistant to platinum-based chemotherapy
• whose tumors contain the FRα protein targeted by the drug.

The treatment is given intravenously (via a drip) over two to four hours, once every three weeks.

Are There Any Side Effects?

The NHS stated that the drug may also have more tolerable side effects than traditional chemotherapy, as it is aimed more precisely at cancer cells than chemotherapy, which can also harm healthy cells.

Common side effects include:

• Eye problems such as blurred vision or dry eyes
• Tiredness
• Nausea
• Low blood counts

Most side effects are manageable with monitoring and supportive care.

Read More: Alan Brazil Shares Survival Story After Heart Stopped During Liver Transplant

Ovarian Cancer Remains A Major Health Challenge

Ovarian cancer is one of the leading causes of death from gynecological cancer worldwide. In the UK, there are around 7,500 new diagnoses each year.

Standard treatment for ovarian cancer typically involves surgery and chemotherapy, but around 80 per cent of patients with advanced disease relapse, and most eventually develop resistance to chemotherapy.

More than a third of patients (37 per cent) treated with mirvetuximab soravtansine also saw their tumors shrink by at least 30 per cent, compared to 16 per cent of patients receiving chemotherapy in clinical trials.

Recent research is changing our understanding of testosterone's role in brain cancer, particularly glioblastoma. A study published in Nature in May 2026 made this finding, altering previous understanding. Dr. Vishnu P. S., Consultant Neurosurgeon, Dr. KM Cherian Institute of Medical Sciences, Chengannur, in an interview with Health and Me, explained the impact of testosterone in fighting brain tumours.

This study, conducted under the National Institutes of Health with a group of researchers from the Cleveland Clinic, turned decades of medical thinking on its head. They discovered that testosterone actually slows down brain tumour growth in men. This breakthrough could totally change how we treat glioblastoma.

This study found that drops in testosterone ramp up inflammation and activate the HPA axis, producing stress hormones that speed up tumour growth. Analysing data from over 1,300 men with the deadly disease glioblastoma, researchers observed a significant benefit for those on testosterone supplements: they had a 38% lower risk of dying compared to those who were not receiving the extra hormone.

How Testosterone Protects the Brain

Testosterone usually regulates microglia, which are defense cells in the brain. When testosterone levels drop, especially in older males, these cells increase inflammation, making the brain less able to fight off issues such as tumours. Removing testosterone in preclinical tests on mice accelerated tumour growth, but restoring it slowed things down again.

The Change Everyone Is Surprised By

This finding shifts what everyone used to think. Previously, people believed testosterone helped tumours grow. But now, that idea has been turned on its head. What was once seen as harmful is now understood to be protective, suppressing brain tumours instead. Plus, the hormone works differently in the brain compared to other parts of the body and helps regulate protective systems there.

In India, this matters a great deal because men develop glioblastomas more often than women do (with a 3:2 ratio). This new finding could totally change how doctors treat patients here, especially older males whose androgen levels are lower and who already have a higher risk of developing this type of cancer.

What This Means for Patients

Glioblastoma continues to be one of the most difficult cancers to treat, with limited improvements in survival rates despite surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. However, this new research suggests that hormones can influence the brain’s immune and stress responses. This might lead to new treatment pathways, especially since androgen levels naturally decline in older men as they age.

Still, caution is needed. The relationship between testosterone and cancer is complex and has produced mixed results. Because of this, doctors do not recommend self-medicating or using hormone therapies unless under close medical supervision or as part of clinical trials. At present, it is more about viewing this as a promising step forward that could offer hope to the millions of patients and families dealing with this devastating illness.