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.

Three suspected hantavirus patients have been evacuated from the ship and are on their way to receive medical care in the Netherlands, said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, today.

The three patients evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship include

• a 56-year-old British national,
• a 65-year-old from Germany,
• a 41-year-old from the Netherlands.

The WHO chief noted that the global health agency “continues to work with the ship’s operators to closely monitor the health of passengers and crew, working with countries to support appropriate medical follow-up and evacuation where needed”.

“Monitoring and follow-up for passengers on board and for those who have already disembarked has been initiated in collaboration with the ship’s operators and national health authorities,” Dr Ghebreyesus said.

Hantavirus: 8 Suspected Cases, 3 Deaths

Also read: Hantavirus: Symptoms, Risks, and Prevention

Some passengers aboard the Hondius began experiencing serious health complications after the ship, carrying about 150 passengers, departed Argentina on April 1.

Initially, it was considered a severe acute respiratory infection; later, three people died.

• April 11: A 70-year-old Dutch national became the first passenger to die while on board the ship. His death has not yet been confirmed as due to hantavirus.
• April 24: The man’s 69-year-old wife travelled alongside her husband’s body from St Helena, a British island in the South Atlantic, to Johannesburg. Her condition deteriorated during a flight the next day, and she was taken to the hospital.
• April 26: The woman died in a hospital in South Africa. She is the first confirmed hantavirus case.
• April 27: A second sick passenger, a British national, was flown to South Africa and remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital with hantavirus.
• May 2: A German national died while on the ship; it is unclear if the passenger was infected.
• May 5: The Swiss government announced that a man who travelled home from his trip from South America on the MV Hondius cruise ship at the end of April visited the University Hospital Zurich after experiencing symptoms. He was immediately placed in isolation, with authorities saying there is no danger to the public. His wife, who accompanied him, has not shown symptoms but is also isolating as a precaution.
• May 6: WHO announces the evacuation of three infected passengers.

What Is Hantavirus?

Also read: Hantavirus Outbreak: How The Rare Rodent-Borne Virus Spreads

According to the WHO, hantaviruses are zoonotic viruses that naturally infect rodents and are occasionally transmitted to humans.

Symptoms include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea

Hantavirus: The Andes strain?

A team of scientists at South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases identified the strain of hantavirus linked to the cases.

In a presentation to parliament, the South African health minister said the Andes strain of hantavirus, which can spread human-to-human, had been identified in two people who disembarked from the cruise ship.

The Andes virus is the only hantavirus strain with documented human-to-human transmission and is more commonly found in South America.

Some people love tea, some can't get enough of coffee, but rarely does one think about if the same could influence disease risk later in life. According to a new study, women's risk of osteoporosis could be influenced by their choice of tea or coffee. Osteoporosis is a common occurrence in women aged 50 years and above. Statistics suggest that one in three women will likely be diagnosed with the disease, which renders the body incapable of replacing old bone after it undergoes wear and tear. This means bones become weak, brittle, and more prone to fractures. Bone problems at an advanced age in women can also slow down healing.

High-risk groups for osteoporosis

Older women are at a higher risk of osteoporosis, and that is because of oestrogen. Oestrogen supports bone metabolism, and its levels drop after menopause. Surgery can help remove a woman's ovaries, thereby resulting in the same effect. Researchers at Flinders University in Australia evaluated tea- and coffee-drinking habits of approximately 9,700 US women aged 65 years and above. Participants were required to self-report their tendencies in the survey on four occasions over a 10-year period.

The study also gathered data on women's bone health, measuring bone mineral density in the hip and the narrow connection to the hip with X-ray beams to deduce mineral levels in the bone. Researchers found that women who regularly drank tea had significantly higher hip BMD than those who did not. This could be because of tea compounds known as catechins that could provide the boost cells need to build strong bones. Even smaller differences can significantly improve bone health.

What are the benefits of tea for women's health?

Researchers noted that tea intake could be particularly beneficial for women dealing with obesity. Coffee habits, alternatively, had a different impact on BMD. Studies suggest that women who drank more than five cups of coffee a day were more likely to have lower BMD levels, thereby suggesting that caffeine can negatively affect calcium absorption in the body. Furthermore, experts noted that drinking any amount of coffee can reduce BMD levels in women, especially those who consumed high levels of alcohol.

Scientists note that, because of the limited scope of the study, more research is required in this area to ascertain the results. However, the study offers insights into the possible benefits of drinking tea for women living with osteoporosis. It can go a long way in improving overall wellness and long-term bone health in women.

The research is published in Nutrients.

A team of scientists at South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases has identified the strain of the Hantavirus that has caused three deaths and infected seven so far aboard the MV Hondius ship in the Atlantic Ocean.

In a presentation to the parliament today, the South African Health Minister revealed that the Andes strain of hantavirus, which spreads human-to-human, has been identified in two people who came off the cruise ship.

“Incredible work of @nicd_sa, South Africa, in sequencing the #hantavirus. There has been excellent collaboration as @WHO

works to coordinate efforts and actions of governments, experts around the world, the Ship to keep people safe,” said Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention at the World Health Organization (WHO), in a post on social media platform X.

The NICD scientists found that the Andes strain was the cause of infection in a Dutch woman who died in Johannesburg, and a British man who is still in hospital. Both had become ill on the ship, Reuters reported.

“This is the only strain that is known to cause human-to-human transmission, but such transmission is very rare and, as said earlier, only happens due to very close contact,” the Minister said.

Other strains of hantavirus are more commonly transmitted to humans through contact with infected rodents or their urine, droppings, or saliva.

Also read: Hantavirus Outbreak: WHO Flags 6 Suspected Cases; How The Rare Rodent-Borne Virus Spreads

What is Hantavirus? How Deadly Is The Andes Strain?

As per the WHO, hantaviruses are zoonotic viruses that naturally infect rodents and are occasionally transmitted to humans.

Globally, an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 hantavirus infections occur each year. The majority of these cases are in Asia, particularly China. Most are sporadic or occur in small clusters, linked to contact with infected rodents.

“Hantaviruses are a group of viruses carried by rodents that can cause severe disease in humans. Infection with hantaviruses is found in many parts of the world. Thousands of infections are estimated to occur each year," Van Kerkhove said.

The Ande virus is the only strain of virus with documented human-to-human transmission. It is more common in South America.

"Although uncommon, limited human‑to‑human transmission of HPS due to the Andes virus has been reported in community settings involving close and prolonged contact. Secondary infections among healthcare workers have been previously documented in healthcare facilities, though they remain rare,” WHO said in its situation report.

The WHO also currently assesses the risk to the global population from this event as low and will continue to monitor the epidemiological situation and update the risk assessment as more information becomes available.

"People really do need to understand that there are different degrees of person-to-person transmission," said Angela Rasmussen, a virologist with the University of Saskatchewan's Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, as quoted by CBS News.

Read More: Hantavirus on Cruise Ship: Symptoms, Risks, and Prevention

In the case of hantavirus, individual people are usually the end of the line, Rasmussen said, noting that this makes this cluster of cases unusual.

"So this virus — right now anyways — doesn't seem to be as big a risk as something like flu," the expert said.

While symptoms might not appear for weeks, the strain can escalate quickly, leading to severe respiratory failure with a death rate of roughly 40 per cent.