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 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to begin, and the stakes are higher than ever before—it will likely be a rollercoaster ride for fans. The highs and lows of winning and the stress that comes with it give an adrenaline rush like no other. However, the overall impact is considered to be positive because research says that people who watch sports together are healthier and experience greater well-being than those who do not. Experts believe that this could be associated with the social aspect of watching sports. And when talking about well-being, experts say that it is about an individual's psychological state.

How does watching football improve well-being?

Researchers say that well-being refers to how one feels, and people with higher well-being have better physical health. They also tend to live longer. The research was carried out by experts at Anglia Ruskin University, involving 7,290 adults aged 16–85 years living in England and who participated in the Taking Part Survey commissioned by the UK government.

Read more: Can An App Be Your Therapist? India’s Digital Mental Health Revolution Faces Key Challenges

Researchers also found that people living in the UK who attended a small sports event in the past year were more satisfied with their lives and less lonely than others. The findings are in sync with other studies that discovered that people who watch sports at least once a year are less likely to have symptoms of depression than those who did not watch.

Should you watch the game in a stadium or at home?

Research found that people who watch sports on TV or on the internet were less likely to be depressed. These symptoms were less likely to occur in people who watched sports more often. People who watch sports are more likely to report a higher feeling of fulfillment than others, whether or not they watch the sport on TV, online, or in person. The findings are correlational, and it cannot be certain which factors influence another or whether they can be influenced by factors such as the number of friends a person has and their wealth. Social identity theory and brain-imaging research, on the other hand, revealed that watching sports could be a greater primary well-being boost than other factors.

Researchers noted that the positive aspect of watching sports is linked to social identity—being able to form a connection with people who share common interests. These form a part of an individual's identity, and through them, one seeks emotional and social support. One example is in-group formations within the community that are shared with people who support the same sports teams. This can likely create a sense of being emotionally supported by fellow fans, which contributes to life satisfaction.

Read more: Social Media Bans for Kids Gain Ground Worldwide: Will They Work?

The shared social identity and emotional benefits of success among a group are noteworthy. Additionally, when a team loses, people are likely to distance themselves from that team to avoid the psychological consequences of a negative social experience. The role of these social processes associated with sports spectatorship and well-being is demonstrated by a Japanese study that relies upon brain imaging. Researchers noted that areas of the brain linked to psychological rewards are more active when people watch spectator sports such as baseball, compared with less popular sports such as golf.

The social benefits of watching sports

Conclusively, it is said that the social benefits of watching sports are not confined to attending live events with friends and family. Whether one supports a team from home or at the game, the highs and lows of being a sports fan are good for health, as long as the experience is shared with others.

Ahead of the high-voltage FIFA World Cup, which begins on June 11, the US has called on the European Union to impose travel restrictions on people who have recently been in Central African countries affected by the Ebola outbreak to curb the wider spread of the deadly virus.

On June 1, the US issued a demarche — a formal diplomatic statement of concern — urging European countries to implement travel restrictions related to the outbreak, a European Union diplomat based in Africa and a second source familiar with the matter said. The diplomat said EU states had not responded, Reuters reported.

"Other countries must do their part to ensure this outbreak does not spread further. Action is required now. That includes financial contributions and implementing common-sense restrictions on travel from the affected area," said the official, who provided comment anonymously.

"We are engaging diplomatically with countries around the world to coordinate our approach to protect our citizens, including the millions of visitors, fans, athletes and tourists expected during the FIFA World Cup," he added.

Meanwhile, the State Department said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen discussed the Ebola response in a call on June 9.

"The Department's highest priority and focus remain protecting the health of the American people and preventing this Ebola outbreak from reaching our shores," spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a readout of that call.

Also read: Ebola Crisis Deepens: DR Congo Cases Near 600 Amid Risk Of Cross-Border Spread

Countries Imposing Ebola Travel Bans

The Ebola outbreak has complicated some travel plans ahead of the FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico and held across 16 cities in the three countries.

United States: Last month, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an order barring non-citizens who had been in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda or South Sudan in the previous 21 days from entering the US. Americans were told to travel through select airports for screenings. The restrictions were later expanded to include green-card holders.

Rubio has said Ebola must not be allowed to enter the US, and the administration's efforts have focused on keeping anyone potentially exposed to the virus overseas, even though the country has facilities equipped to treat Ebola cases while containing the spread of the virus.

Read More: Ebola Bundibugyo Outbreak: UK Scientists Identify 23 Unique Mutations

Canada – Imposed a 90-day entry ban on residents of the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan, along with quarantine measures for some returning travelers.

The Bahamas – Introduced a temporary ban on travellers from affected countries.

Jordan – Suspended entry for travellers arriving from Ebola-affected countries.

Bahrain – Implemented temporary entry restrictions on travellers from affected regions.

United Arab Emirates – UAE authorities halted all new visa issuances for citizens of the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan, and barred anyone travelling from or transiting through these countries.

Countries with additional restrictions, screening or quarantine measures include:

• Mexico
• India
• Thailand
• Kenya
• Zambia
• Cayman Islands

Is A Travel Ban Effective To Curb Ebola?

The World Health Organization (WHO) does not recommend any ban on international travel or trade during the ongoing Ebola outbreak centered in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

The United Nations has called on airlines and governments to adhere strictly to protocols established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) during the global COVID-19 pandemic. These include using electronic health declarations and contactless border processes, it said on June 9.

The ICAO said that, for now, international flights are safe. It urged countries not to close borders or impose restrictions on travel or trade and instead focus on exit screening for departing passengers rather than entry screening for arrivals.

"Exit screening can be implemented in affected countries for all persons at international airports for unexplained illness associated with fever and consistent with other symptoms of potential BVD," the ICAO said in a statement.

The WHO has maintained that the risk of transmission of Ebola virus disease during air travel is low. Unlike infections such as

influenza or tuberculosis, Ebola is not spread by breathing air, or airborne particles, from an infected person.

Transmission requires direct contact with blood, secretions, organs or other body fluids of infected living or dead persons or animals, all of which are unlikely exposures for the average traveler.

Further, travelers are advised to avoid such contacts and routinely practice careful hygiene, including handwashing.

Importantly, the virus spreads only after an infected person has started showing symptoms. A person usually has no symptoms for two to 21 days (the incubation period). Symptoms include fever, weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rash and, in some cases, bleeding.

The risk of a traveler becoming infected with the Ebola virus during a visit to affected countries and developing the disease after returning is also very low, even if the visit includes travel to areas where cases have been reported, the WHO has said.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reported 598 confirmed Ebola infections and 115 deaths, according to the latest update released by national health authorities.

The outbreak saw a huge surge on Monday, when officials recorded 48 new confirmed cases and 14 additional deaths in a single day. Meanwhile, three more patients recovered from the disease, bringing the total number of recoveries to 22.

Public health officials said the number of new cases reported each week continues to rise, indicating sustained community transmission. They cautioned that without intensified containment efforts and stronger public health measures, the outbreak could quickly expand into new regions.

As of Monday, a total of 297 people were being isolated or receiving treatment, including 113 confirmed Ebola patients and 184 individuals classified as suspected cases.

Uganda Dispatches Medics To Congo Border Regions

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.

According to a post by Uganda's health ministry, 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.

The World Health Organization's (WHO) current assessment rates the threat level as very high in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and high in neighboring Uganda and adjacent border areas. However, the risk remains low for the rest of Africa and the world.

The security conditions in many regions of the DRC are preventing health authorities from operating effectively. The regions are infested by armed groups and plagued by constant violence. The epicenter of the outbreak, Ituri province itself, is one of the most active conflict zones. Thus, the help to the patients there is not up to the mark. As a result, the disease is also spreading fast.

Also Read: Salmonella Outbreak: Instant Noodles Sicken Over 80 In The UK, Europe

Track Record Of Ebola Outbreaks

Ebola is a highly lethal viral hemorrhagic fever. 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.

The current outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo Ebola virus, was officially declared by the DRC health ministry on May 15.