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.

Cancer treatment is often viewed as months of painful chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgeries that one might physically recover from but may continue to struggle with the trauma of for years. But now, thanks to a new injectable drug, cancer treatment may speed up for thousands of NHS patients in the UK. Pembrolizumab, also known as Keytruda, is that one-minute cancer drug injection that will likely speed up cancer treatment for thousands of patients—and soon, it will be available as a quicker jab instead of a half-hour drug.

What is pembrolizumab?

Pembrolizumab is an injectable drug prescribed to over 14,000 people in Britain every year. It works by stimulating the immune system to attack cancer cells on its own. Patients usually spend about two hours at a clinic when it is slowly administered for 30 minutes or more via a drip or IV line. However, this one-minute jab is now available in an injectable form and can be administered every three weeks or as a two-minute injection every six weeks.

The drug has now been made more concentrated, with an extra component added to help the body absorb it faster. This shot is given in the stomach or the thigh instead of being infused through a vein in the arm. Doctors say that this rapid jab, which takes less than a minute to deliver, can help patients get back to their lives without having to spend hours in a hospital chair; for a cancer patient, regular hospital trips and multiple rounds of therapy can be physically exhausting and mentally draining.

How will pembrolizumab benefit cancer patients?

Pembrolizumab, according to doctors, will make cancer therapy and treatment more convenient for patients, and it can also bring down waiting times. It is one of the most successful cancer drugs and has been celebrated as a game-changer in treating several tumour types. The NHS uses the drug to treat 14 types of cancer, such as lung, breast, bowel, womb, stomach, head and neck, and melanoma.

The first-ever patient to receive pembrolizumab was Shirley Xerxes, 89, from St Albans, Hertfordshire, who was suffering from bowel cancer. She spoke several times about how it changed her will to live and how little time it took.

How does pembrolizumab work?

Pembrolizumab tells the immune system to recognise and kill cancer cells. It can fight head and neck, lung, breast, and cervical cancer. The drug is administered every three weeks as a one-minute injection, or it is given every six weeks as a two-minute injection, depending on the cancer type.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on May 3 that three people who died aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean were suspected to have been infected with hantavirus. The rodent-borne virus can cause severe and sometimes fatal respiratory illness.

"To date, one case of hantavirus infection has been laboratory confirmed, and there are five additional suspected cases," the organization said in a post on social media platform X.

"Of the six affected individuals, three have died, and one is currently in intensive care in South Africa," it added.

In a statement provided to USA TODAY, Netherlands-based expedition cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions said it was addressing a "serious medical situation" on board m/v Hondius. The ship was en route from Argentina to Cape Verde, an island nation off Africa's west coast.

What Is Hantavirus?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hantaviruses are a family of viruses that can cause severe illnesses and even death. The hantavirus is primarily spread by rodents through

• exposure to their urine,
• droppings,
• saliva,
• less commonly through a scratch or bite.

The CDC notes that hantaviruses are capable of causing diseases like hantavirus pulmonary syndrome or HPS and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome or HERS.

It can infect and cause serious diseases in people. It has mainly two syndromes. One is found in the Western Hemisphere, including in the US, which can cause HPS.

The most common hantavirus that causes HPS in the US is spread by the deer mouse. HERS is a group that is similar to illnesses caused by hantaviruses and is found mostly in Asia and Europe. There's another type, called the Seoul virus, which is a type of hantavirus that causes HERS and is found worldwide, including in the US.

The WHO did not specify the type of hantavirus or syndrome in the cruise incident, but did mention respiratory risks.

Hantavirus: What Are The Common Symptoms?

According to the CDC, symptoms can appear one to eight weeks after exposure, initially presenting fatigue, fever, and muscle aches. As the disease progresses, it can cause coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness as fluid accumulates in the lungs.

The CDC reports that about one-third of individuals who develop respiratory symptoms from the disease may not survive.

Despite extensive research, many questions remain unanswered, including why some cases are mild while others become severe and how antibodies develop. She and other researchers have been tracking patients over extended periods, hoping to uncover potential treatments.

Also read: India Concerned Over Measles Outbreak, Action Underway: Dr N K Arora| Exclusive

Hantavirus: How Can You Reduce Your Risk?

You can reduce your risk by eliminating and minimizing your contact with rodents in your home, workplace, or campsite. The best way is to seal holes and gaps in your home or garage and keep the rodents from entering your home. You can also place traps in and around your home to decrease rodent infestation. Clean up any easy-to-get food that could attract rodents.

Hantavirus: How Does The Diagnosis Work?

CDC notes that the diagnosis in a person who has been infected for less than 72 hours is difficult. If the initial test is done before the virus can be found, then a repeat test is required after 72 hours whenever the symptoms start to show up. Early symptoms, as mentioned above, like fever, headache, muscle aches, nausea, and fatigue, could also be easily confused with influenza, thus a test is extremely important.

The US has witnessed 50 large tuberculosis outbreaks (defined as 10 or more related cases in three years) across 23 states from 2017 through 2023, according to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The latest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report showed that the numbers, primarily involving U.S.-born persons, have more than doubled in recent years and disproportionately affected socially and economically vulnerable populations.

The outbreaks accounted for 1,092 of the 61,993 cases reported during the period. Two-thirds of large outbreaks occurred within family and social networks. Persons with TB in large outbreaks reported substance use, homelessness, and incarceration more often than did other persons with TB.

The numbers also show a sharp increase from the 24 identified from 2014 to 2016, suggesting that transmission within family and social networks is an ongoing issue, despite the US having one of the lowest TB incidence rates in the world.

“Approximately 80 per cent of large outbreak-related cases occurred among US-born persons. The identification of large outbreaks in approximately one-half of US states, including many with TB incidence below the national average, indicates that maintaining public health capacity for TB outbreak prevention, detection, and response remains critical even in jurisdictions with low TB incidence,” said corresponding author Kala M. Raz, from the Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, CDC

What Are The Key Finding?

Notably, the report showed that people involved in the large outbreaks differed from other TB patients. The differences include:

• Nearly 80 per cent of cases were among US-born people, compared to 26 per cent in non-outbreak TB cases
• Substance use was more common (27 per cent vs 12 per cent)
• Around 9 per cent were homeless, compared to 5 per cent in non-outbreak cases
• Over 11 per cent had been incarcerated, vs 3 per cent in non-outbreak TB
• More cases were seen in children under 15 (15 per cent vs 3 per cent)
• Higher share among adults aged 25–44 (40 per cent vs 29 per cent)
• Fewer cases in adults 65+ (8 per cent vs 26 per cent)
• About two-thirds of outbreaks spread within families or social circles
• Around one-quarter occurred in group settings like workplaces, prisons, care homes, universities, and shelters
• Outbreaks were reported in 23 states, including those with lower TB rates
• Large outbreaks made up 1.7 per cent of total TB cases (2017–2023)

How To Control

The CDC report calls for maintaining public health capacity for TB outbreak detection, prevention, and response, even in areas with low TB incidence.

Importantly, they pressed for national genomic surveillance to help prevent and control outbreaks at the local levels.

They also emphasize the need for targeted public health strategies focused on populations at increased risk, particularly those experiencing housing instability, substance use, or incarceration.

What Is Tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection that primarily affects the lungs but can spread to other parts of the body. It is transmitted through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Without proper treatment, TB can be fatal.

What Are The Symptoms?

Persistent cough that lasts more than three weeks

Fever

Night sweats

Unexplained weight loss.