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.

Europe is reeling under an intense heatwave, causing schools to shut, triggering red alerts across France, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom, and killing dozens of people.

The heatwave has also forced the early closure of major Paris tourist attractions, including the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum.

According to meteorologists, the soaring temperatures are being driven by a weather pattern known as an "omega block".

What Is An Omega Block?

Also read: ‘Heat Dome’ Triggering Record-Breaking May Temperatures In France, UK, Spain

An omega block is a large-scale atmospheric pattern named after the Greek letter Omega (Ω) because of its distinctive shape.

The pattern develops when a strong area of high pressure becomes locked between two low-pressure systems. Normally, the jet stream — a fast-moving current of air high in the atmosphere — pushes weather systems across Europe from west to east.

During an omega block, the jet stream bends into a stagnant pattern, causing weather systems to stall.

This blocks cooler Atlantic air from entering the region while drawing hot air northward from North Africa and the Sahara. The persistent high-pressure system acts like a lid, trapping heat near the ground and allowing temperatures to climb steadily over several days.

“This is high pressure over the UK, home-grown, and hot air coming in from the Continent, which is going into its own heatwave,” said Jim Dale, meteorologist at British Weather Services and co-author of Surviving Extreme Weather, The Telegraph reported.

Meanwhile, the UK Met Office has warned that parts of England and Wales could threaten Britain's June temperature record of 35.6°C, set in Southampton in 1976, as the plume of hot air moves north and west.

Read More: WHO Sounds Alarm on Europe's Extreme Heat: Here's How Hot It Could Get Across Countries

Why France Is The Worst Hit

Parts of France, Spain and other regions of Western Europe have recorded temperatures above 40°C.

As per the forecast, the heat dome is centered over France, explaining why the country has been hit harder than its neighbors.

France endured its hottest night ever recorded from Monday to Tuesday, according to Météo-France.

“The heart of the hottest part of this system is screwed down over France, even if it spills over a little into neighboring countries,” Christophe Mertz, a meteorologist at MétéoNews, told French Daily La Montagne,

“The phenomenon is maximal over our country”.

How Long Can An Omega Block Last?

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As per the experts, Omega blocks typically persist for three to 10 days, but in some cases, they can remain in place for several weeks.

Because the pattern moves very slowly, affected regions can experience prolonged periods of extreme heat, drought, or, depending on the season, cold spells.

Omega Block: The Role Of Climate Change

Experts say climate change is intensifying the heat associated with omega blocks.

Europe is now experiencing heatwaves that are 2 to 4 degrees hotter than they would have been without human-caused warming, according to Clair Barnes, a research associate in extreme weather and climate at Imperial College London, Reuters reported.

The United Nations has also warned that such episodes are no longer freak events but a sign of man-made climate change.

Antonio Guterres, the UN’s secretary-general, on June 23 urged the world to act with “far greater urgency” to limit global warming.

“On the surface, these crises may seem separate. But they share the same destructive origin: fossil fuels,” he told London Climate Action Week.

This early summer’s June omega block is the second major heatwave to strike Europe in two months. As per scientists, a warming world will drive such events earlier in spring, which will linger later into autumn, and become severe each time they come.

Sri Lanka has been battling dengue cases since the beginning of the year. According to the National Dengue Control Unit, the island nation reported a total of 47,530 cases and 29 dengue-related deaths as of June 22.

Health officials said cases jumped to 13,689 in June alone, up from 8,590 cases in May 2026. The deaths include five children.

Colombo district accounts for 21 per cent of the country's cases (9,983), while Gampaha district has reported 8,809 cases (18.53 per cent).

Dengue: What's Behind The Surge?

Sri Lanka has experienced large outbreaks in recent years, including in 2017, 2019 and 2023. In 2025, the country recorded a total of 51,000 cases. The 2026 outbreak is reportedly driven by the monsoons and the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, which ravaged the island nation in December last year.

“We noticed this increase after the cyclone,” Dr. Prashila Samaraweera, consultant community physician at the National Dengue Control Unit, told Reuters.

“A lot of debris was in our environment, so we noticed a lot of mosquito breeding places, and our entomological indices were high from that time,” she added.

Also read: Dengue Serotypes Shifting In Young Adults: How India's Indigenous Vaccine Could Help Prevent Severe Disease

Measures to Contain Dengue

Schools, homes, construction sites and public buildings are being cleaned up during a special programme launched by Sri Lanka's health authorities and other public officials.

According to media reports, Sri Lanka is deploying the military to contain the spread of mosquito-borne dengue fever, as health authorities warned that hospitals are being overwhelmed with more than 1,000 admissions a day.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's office said army, navy and air force officers would join a special unit to identify and destroy mosquito breeding sites.

What Is Dengue?

Dengue is a viral infection transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes and is common in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Mild dengue causes high fever and flu-like symptoms. However, in some cases, it can progress to severe dengue, also known as dengue hemorrhagic fever, which may lead to serious bleeding, shock and death.

Dengue is considered the most prevalent viral infection transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. More than 3.9 billion people across over 132 countries are at risk, with an estimated 96 million symptomatic cases and around 40,000 deaths annually worldwide.

Symptoms of Dengue Fever

Symptoms usually appear 4–10 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito and may vary in severity. Common symptoms include:

• High fever
• Severe headache
• Pain behind the eyes
• Joint and muscle pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fatigue
• Skin rashes appearing a few days after fever onset

How to Prevent Dengue

Preventing dengue mainly involves reducing mosquito exposure and eliminating mosquito breeding sites. Effective preventive measures include:

• Using insect repellents containing DEET
• Wearing long-sleeved clothing, especially during dawn and dusk
• Installing screens on windows and doors
• Using mosquito nets while sleeping in endemic areas
• Eliminating stagnant water in flower pots, gutters and containers
• Using mosquito traps or insecticide-treated materials in mosquito-prone areas.

The National Health Service (NHS) has approved teplizumab for people with early-stage type 1 diabetes in England and Wales.

Teplizumab (sold under the brand names Tzield and Teplizumab) is manufactured by French drug maker Sanofi and is the world's first immunotherapy to target the root cause of type 1 diabetes and slow its progression.

It will be made available on the NHS in England and Wales as clinical trial evidence reviewed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) showed that teplizumab can delay the onset of symptomatic type 1 diabetes by an average of nearly three years.

“This is a genuinely exciting recommendation. For the first time, we have a treatment that can give people diagnosed at an early stage of type 1 diabetes precious extra time before they need to manage the full demands of the condition,” said Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at NICE.

Who Is Eligible for Teplizumab?

Teplizumab is used to delay the onset of stage 3 type 1 diabetes in children aged 8 years and older, and adults, with stage 2 type 1 diabetes.

In stage 1 type 1 diabetes, there are no symptoms, and blood sugar levels are normal, but blood tests show the immune system has begun attacking the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.

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At stage 2, the immune attack has progressed further. There are still no symptoms, but blood tests show early changes in blood sugar levels, indicating a high risk of developing symptomatic diabetes.

Because stage 2 type 1 diabetes has no symptoms, specific tests are needed to diagnose it. There is currently no national screening program. But people are most likely to be identified through:

• Research studies such as ELSA and T1DRA, which screen children and young people aged 2 to 17.

• Testing because of an increased risk, such as having a parent, sibling or child with type 1 diabetes.

• Testing for other medical reasons, including concerns about blood sugar levels.

“Around 1,100 people could be eligible for treatment in the first year, with approximately 555 expected to take it up. From year three, the eligible population is expected to stabilise at around 820 people annually, with approximately 490 expected to receive treatment,” as per NICE.

How Does Teplizumab Work?

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Teplizumab helps regulate the immune system by attaching to a protein called CD3 on the surface of immune cells responsible for attacking insulin-producing cells. This slows damage to the pancreas and delays the onset of the disease.

Evidence for teplizumab comes from the TN-10 clinical trial, which followed 76 children aged 8 years and older and adults with stage 2 type 1 diabetes who had a close family member with the condition. Of the participants, 44 received teplizumab and 32 received a placebo.

Teplizumab delayed the onset of symptomatic type 1 diabetes by approximately 32 months.

How Is Teplizumab Administered?

Teplizumab is given through a drip into a vein once a day for 14 consecutive days. Each infusion takes at least 30 minutes, with the dose gradually increased during the first few days. It is a one-time treatment course.

Patients will need to attend hospital every day during the treatment period, including weekends. The NICE committee noted that daily travel may be difficult for some people because of cost or practical considerations.

Sanofi has agreed a commercial arrangement with NHS England, meaning teplizumab will be available to the NHS at a confidential discounted price.