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.

Raw milk is often promoted as a natural alternative to pasteurized milk. But unpasteurized milk can carry harmful bacteria, including E. coli, Salmonella and Campylobacter.

Two young girls in California — 17-month-old Brooklyn and 6-year-old Victoria — were hospitalized with severe E. coli infections after drinking raw goat milk from the same farm, ProPublica reported.

Brooklyn developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a potentially life-threatening complication of E. coli infection, and nearly died.

Doctors suspected the raw milk was the source of the infections.

How Did Brooklyn Get Sick?

Brooklyn’s mother, Emily Marris, had been looking for an alternative to formula after breastfeeding her daughter for a year. As she could not continue breastfeeding due to a medication for chronic hip pain, she tried cow’s milk, which left Brooklyn with constipation.

Marris was then guided to raw goat milk in a Facebook group run by her chiropractor.

Members recommended it, claiming goat milk was easier to digest. The group also directed her to MoonLight Ridge Farm.

Also read: Unsafe Sleep Factors Linked To 73% Of Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths In US: CDC

Brooklyn Developed Severe E. Coli Infection

Brooklyn drank the raw milk for about six months. But on June 2, Brooklyn suddenly began vomiting. Her condition rapidly worsened and she was transferred to Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego.

Doctors diagnosed her with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), in which blood clots damage small blood vessels and can cause kidney failure.

A stool test confirmed E. coli O157:H7. Doctors suspected the raw milk was the likely source.

Brooklyn required intensive care, including a breathing tube and dialysis. Her condition became so severe that her parents feared she would not survive. She also went into cardiac arrest three times.

E. coli can live in animal intestines and contaminate milk through fecal matter. Even a small amount can cause infection.

Victoria Also Hospitalized

Brooklyn was not the only child affected. Six-year-old Victoria, who had also consumed milk from the same farm, was treated at the same San Diego hospital for a severe E. coli infection and required blood transfusions.

There are more children suffering from severe infections after drinking raw milk. In the past two years alone, hundreds had fallen ill across nine states from drinking raw milk or eating products made with it, as social media influencers and President Donald Trump’s White House continue to promote the unproven benefits of raw milk and downplaying its risks.

Read More: Are GLP-1 Drugs Safe for Children? Study Finds Nutritional Deficiency in Nearly 17% Within a Year

What Happened to the Farm?

California regulates raw-milk sales, but ProPublica reported the farm sold unlabeled milk without the required license. However, on August 1, the Food and Agriculture Department found that the farm had sold unapproved raw milk without a CDFA license. It was not penalized, the report said.

Brooklyn Faces Long-Term Health Problems

After leaving the hospital, Brooklyn required physical therapy and experienced problems with walking and sleep. Her mother said her development had stalled.

Doctors also warned of possible long-term kidney problems and advised regular nephrology follow-up.

What Is Raw Milk?

Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized. Pasteurization uses heat to destroy harmful bacteria and other pathogens.

Raw-milk proponents often claim that pasteurization destroys nutrients or improves the health benefits of milk. However, experts say pasteurization does not significantly alter milk’s mineral or protein content.

Claims that raw milk improves digestion or boosts immunity have not been scientifically established.

How Does Raw Milk Become Contaminated?

Raw milk can be contaminated through:

Animals: E. coli, Salmonella and Campylobacter can enter milk through infected animals or fecal contamination.

Environment and equipment: Polluted water, dirt, manure and contaminated milking equipment can also introduce pathogens.

Raw Milk Health Risks

Raw milk can cause diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea and fever. In some cases, infections can become severe or life-threatening.

Children, older adults, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable.

Certain E. coli infections can cause HUS, which may lead to kidney failure and other serious complications.

Pasteurization destroys harmful bacteria while preserving the nutritional value of milk. The FDA, CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics advise against consuming raw milk because of its foodborne infection risks.

Ten batches of medicines used for seizures, heart conditions, depression and postpartum bleeding have been withdrawn at New Delhi’s Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital after quality failures and physical defects were identified.

According to The Times of India, the affected medicines include sodium valproate, spironolactone, imipramine, metoprolol and methyl ergometrine. Some batches were classified as “Not of Standard Quality” after testing, while others showed physical defects.

Which Medicines Were Recalled?

A September 14 notice from RML Hospital said three tablet batches had failed analytical testing:

• Sodium valproate gastro-resistant 200 mg
• Spironolactone 50 mg
• Imipramine 25 mg

Five injectable batches were also recalled after failing quality tests. They included:

• Adenosine
• Methyl ergometrine
• Multivitamin injection
• Pheniramine maleate
• Ascorbic acid

The hospital had separately flagged physical defects in two tablet batches, the report said.

Tablets Found In Powder Form

Also read: 2 Indians Charged In US Over Fake Ozempic Scheme: How To Spot Counterfeit GLP-1 Drugs

A September 9 notice said isosorbide mononitrate 20 mg tablets were found in powder form inside their strips.

The affected batch, ABT6711, was manufactured by Glowson India Labs in July 2026 and expires in June 2028. Departments were told to stop using and return the batch.

A similar defect was found in metoprolol 50 mg tablets from batch ABT6608, also manufactured by Glowson India Labs. The hospital ordered its withdrawal.

RML Hospital Acts On Quality Failures

RML officials said the affected medicines were recalled after test results were received, with departments instructed to stop using them and report any patient-related problems.

Some medicines were supplied by Jackson Laboratories, according to the hospital.

No severe adverse effects had been reported among patients in connection with the affected batches, officials said. The hospital has also arranged alternative medicines to prevent disruption in treatment.

“The hospital has made interim arrangements to ensure the availability of alternative medicines and avoid any disruption in patient care. The situation is being closely monitored, and all necessary measures are being taken in accordance with established drug quality and patient-safety protocols,” RML official said, TOI reported.

What Happens If You Take A Defective Medicine?

Poor quality drugs can have a severe impact on health which includes death, disease progression, drug resistance and so on.

Poor quality drugs can contain toxic ingredients or incorrect active ingredients that can lead to death. It can also make chronic and infectious diseases worse. Furthermore, these drugs can lead to drug resistance and can threaten the health of people who are consuming them.

It can also cause side effects like rashes, hive, and other health risks, leading to further increasing the health care cost, and leading to loss of income. It can also lead to people's loss of faith in the healthcare system.

What Should You Do If You Took A Recalled Medicine?

Do not stop an essential prescription medicine on your own. Check the medicine name, strength, batch number and expiry date, and contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have a recalled batch.

Seek urgent medical care for serious symptoms such as difficulty breathing, swelling, severe allergic reactions, loss of consciousness or seizures.

More American women are starting GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic and Zepbound after giving birth, according to a new study

The findings, published in JAMA, found that the sharpest increases were seen among women with diabetes, obesity or overweight.

Researchers from the University of Southern California Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics analyzed private insurance claims covering just over 1 million births over seven years.

They found that the share of new mothers starting a GLP-1 prescription within six months of childbirth rose from 0.08% in the first half of 2018 to 1.9% by the first quarter of 2025 — a 24-fold increase.

Which Women Are Driving The Rise?

Women with type 2 diabetes had the highest rate of GLP-1 prescriptions. Among them, use increased from 2.3% to 16.9% over the study period — roughly 1 in 6 women.

Prescribing also increased among women who had gestational diabetes, rising from 0.4% in mid-2021 to 2.7% in the first quarter of 2025. Gestational diabetes affects about 5% to 9% of pregnancies and substantially increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later.

The fastest relative increase was seen among women diagnosed with obesity or overweight before pregnancy. GLP-1 use in this group rose from 0.4% in the second half of 2021 to 3.9% by the first quarter of 2025.

Since the second half of 2024, women with diagnosed obesity or overweight have accounted for 40% of new postpartum GLP-1 prescriptions.

Another 21% of women had no documented qualifying diagnosis before giving birth. However, most of these women received a diagnosis — usually obesity or overweight — before starting a GLP-1 medication.

Most Women Started GLP-1s 3 Months After Birth

Patients are advised to stop using GLP-1 medications during pregnancy. Most postpartum women in the study who started a GLP-1 did so at least three months after giving birth.

“Postpartum is a critical window for addressing metabolic risk after pregnancy, and we're seeing GLP-1 use explode in this population. Because evidence on GLP-1 exposure during breastfeeding remains limited, rising postpartum initiation warrants further study,” said lead author and Schaeffer scholar Sih-Ting Cai.

Similar Rise Seen In Denmark

A 2025 JAMA study found a similar rise in Denmark. Fewer than five GLP-1 prescriptions per 10,000 women were recorded after childbirth in 2018, rising to 173 per 10,000 by 2024 — nearly 2% of new mothers.

Can GLP-1s Raise Health Risks After Childbirth?

GLP-1s are increasingly used for postpartum weight loss, but their safety after childbirth remains poorly studied. According to researchers, little is known about how these drugs affect normal postpartum hormonal changes or maternal recovery.

They also noted that evidence on GLP-1 exposure during breastfeeding remains limited, highlighting the need for further research as postpartum use increases.

“We simply do not know how weight-loss medication interacts with those processes or whether it could affect normal physiological recovery,” Dr. Jonathan Zipursky, a clinical pharmacologist and toxicologist at the University of Toronto, told The New York Times in 2025.

Evidence on GLP-1s during breastfeeding is also limited. A 2024 CMAJ paper suggested low breast-milk exposure, but researchers stressed that infant safety data remain insufficient. Zipursky recommended avoiding GLP-1s while breastfeeding as a precaution.