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.

Scrub typhus has claimed 15 lives at Jaipur's Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital between July and September, raising concerns about the fatal infection that can be mistaken as common illnesses like dengue, malaria and typhoid.

According to reports, the hospital recorded more than 323 admissions from January to September. September alone accounted for 213 cases and nine deaths. According to the doctors, many of the deaths are attributed to organ failure, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.

What Is Scrub Typhus And How Is It Transmitted?

Scrub typhus is a bacterial infection caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi. It spreads through the bite of infected larval mites, commonly called chiggers, which are found in grassy areas, fields, bushes and vegetation.

Humans can become infected while working in agricultural fields or getting exposed in areas where these mites thrive. Scrub typhus does not ordinarily spread directly from one person to another. Symptoms usually develop around one to three weeks after exposure but the period of incubation can vary.

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Symptoms Of Scrub Typhus

Early symptoms can be difficult to distinguish from other infections. They may include:

• Fever and chills
• Headache
• Body aches and fatigue
• Skin rash
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Burning sensation in eyes
• Dry cough

Another important symptom is an eschar, a dark, scab-like mark that may develop at the site of a mite bite. It can resemble a small burn or black crust, which is often surrounded by redness. However, not every infected person develops this mark, so its absence does not rule out the infection.

Dr Vishal Gupta, a professor in the Department of Medicine at SMS Hospital, said that people should be alert if they develop any of the aforementioned symptoms of scrub typhus.

The disease is transmitted through bites from mites or fleas. It is therefore important to wear full-sleeved clothing while working in fields and use an insect-repellent cream.

Also read: Russia Plague Scare: WHO Reiterates Biosafety Rules Despite No Confirmed Lab Accident

When Can Scrub Typhus Become Fatal?

If treatment is delayed, the infection can progress towards serious complications, including inflammation of the lungs, liver and brain, kidney injury, bleeding and multiple-organ failure.

As its early symptoms may overlap with those of dengue, malaria and other febrile illnesses, diagnosis may be delayed. People with persistent fever, especially after exposure to fields or dense vegetation, should seek medical assessment and mention the relevant exposure to their doctor.

Scrub typhus is treatable with antibiotics. Doxycycline is the preferred treatment in many cases, and early treatment can reduce the risk of severe complications. Doctors may choose alternative antibiotics depending on factors like pregnancy, age and the patient's clinical history.

Treatment should be prescribed by a healthcare professional. Patients should not self-medicate with antibiotics or wait for symptoms to become severe before seeking care.

How Can You Prevent Scrub Typhus?

There is currently no widely available vaccine for scrub typhus, making exposure prevention important.

• Wear long sleeves, long trousers and covered footwear when visiting fields or areas with dense vegetation.
• Use an appropriate insect repellent according to its label.
• Avoid sitting or lying directly on grass or scrub vegetation.
• Shower and change clothes after spending time in potentially infested areas.
• Seek prompt medical care if fever develops after possible exposure.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has renewed attention on the importance of laboratory biosafety and biosecurity after the death of a worker at a plague research institute in Siberia, Russia. This comes even after Russian authorities confirm that no laboratory accident or confirmed plague infection.

In a Disease Outbreak News update published on October 10, the WHO stated it had not identified evidence of ongoing transmission of pneumonic plague linked to the incident. However, the cause of the worker's fatal pneumonia remains unexplained, leaving several emergency public health questions unanswered.

A 28-year-old lab technician of the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute who was hospitalised with severe pneumonia on September 29 and died on October 2.

Initial media reports suspected possible pneumonic plague following occupational exposure, but Russian authorities reported that tests had not detected plague or other dangerous pathogens.

WHO's Inquiry

Also read: Plague Treatable, CDC Monitoring US Arrivals From Russia After Worker’s Death, Says Director Erica Schwartz

According to updates provided by Russian authorities, more than 5,500 laboratory tests were conducted as part of the investigation. No high-threat pathogens were detected among high-risk contacts. Additionally, the contacts reportedly displayed no alarming symptoms.

Russia also told the WHO that two independent investigations found no laboratory biosafety or biosecurity incidents at the institute. The authorities classified the death as pneumonia of "undetermined origin" rather than plague.

However, the WHO has highlighted the fact that it has not received information about the confirmed cause of the fatal illness.

In its assessment, the agency stated, "A key uncertainty for this event is the absence of a confirmed diagnosis in the deceased laboratory worker."

The WHO added that the occupational setting remained relevant because the worker was employed at an institution that handled high-risk pathogens. “A laboratory-associated exposure therefore cannot be fully excluded at this stage,” the report said.

This does not establish that an accident occurred. Rather, it points towards the limits of the available evidence while the cause of death remains unresolved.

WHO Reiterates Laboratory Safety Rules

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The WHO's advice focuses on preventing occupational exposure to hazardous biological agents and reducing the risk of accidental leaks.

The agency emphasised that laboratories handling dangerous pathogens should maintain robust biosafety, biosecurity and infection prevention and control practices. These precautions apply routinely, regardless of whether a particular incident has been confirmed.

The WHO specifically clarified that its recommendation was precautionary and did not imply that a laboratory-related infection or incident had been confirmed yet.

Biosafety involves practices and equipment designed to prevent accidental exposure to infectious pathogens, while biosecurity focuses on preventing their loss, theft, misuse or unauthorised release.

Plague Outbreak Risk

The WHO said it had found no evidence of ongoing transmission associated with the incident. Russian authorities reported no recent plague cases in the Irkutsk region and said medical monitoring of contacts had been completed.

However, the absence of a confirmed diagnosis means the exact cause of the worker's death remains unknown, keeping loose ends open. The WHO said additional clinical, epidemiological and laboratory information would help strengthen its assessment.

Pneumonic plague, the form that initially prompted concern, affects the lungs and can spread between people through infectious respiratory droplets. It can be fatal without prompt treatment, although antibiotics can be effective when administered early.

Veteran actor Sharmila Tagore recently revisited her lung cancer diagnosis after she appeared on Soha Ali Khan's podcast All About Her with Saba Ali Khan. While Saba opened up about her brain tumour, they also discussed Sharmila's lung cancer which was diagnosed at stage zero.

The 81-year-old veteran actor insisted on undergoing surgery despite being diagnosed at stage zero lung cancer. She said that many believed that the procedure might not be necessary. Soha revealed that doctors confirmed that the tissue was malignant during surgery and were able to remove it completely.

Sharmila Tagore did not need chemotherapy after the surgery, according to Soha. In a chat with Nayandeep Rakshit, Soha shared that her mother did not need chemotherapy. "With my mother, she was one of the very few people to be diagnosed with lung cancer at stage zero. No chemotherapy, nothing. It was cut out of her, and she is, touchwood, fine," she said.

The actor's case brings up the question of whether surgery at the earliest stage of lung cancer can prevent the disease from progressing.

What Is Stage Zero Lung Cancer?

Stage zero is the earliest stage of non-small cell lung cancer, also called carcinoma in situ. At this stage, abnormal or cancerous cells are confined to the innermost lining of the airways and have not invaded deeper lung tissue or spread to lymph nodes or distant organs.

Unlike more advanced lung cancers, stage zero disease is often treatable with local treatment alone. However, it can be difficult to detect because it may not cause noticeable symptoms.

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Can Surgery Stop Lung Cancer From Progressing?

In terms of progression, surgery can often help stage zero lung cancer, provided the abnormal tissue is completely removed and the diagnosis confirms that it has not become invasive.

The objective is to remove the affected tissue before the cancerous cells penetrate deeper into the lung. Depending on the lesion's size and location, surgeons may perform a wedge resection or segmentectomy, removing a small portion of the lung.

For patients whose cancer is confined to the airway lining, chemotherapy or radiation is generally not required after successful surgery, just like in Tagore's case.

Treatment decisions, however, depend on the final pathology report and individual clinical findings.

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Stage Zero Lung Cancer Is Difficult To Detect

Lung cancer is frequently diagnosed after it has progressed because early disease may produce fewer or no symptoms. Persistent cough, chest pain and breathlessness are not reliable early warning signs of stage zero disease.

Low-dose CT screening can help detect lung abnormalities before symptoms develop, especially among people at high risk, like certain long-term smokers.

However, screening recommendations depend on age and smoking history, and not every lung abnormality detected on a scan is cancer.

Even though complete removal of stage zero lung cancer can offer an excellent chance of cure, it does not eliminate every future risk.

Patients may need follow-up imaging and clinical assessments to monitor for recurrence or a new primary lung cancer. The risk varies depending on the original tumour, the type of treatment and individual factors.