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.

The growing popularity of GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro has brought another side effect into focus.

After the widely discussed 'Ozempic Face,' dermatologists are now warning about 'Ozempic Hair,' a term used to describe excessive hair shedding that can occur after rapid and weight loss.

Experts say the condition is not caused by the medication directly damaging hair follicles. Instead, it is largely linked to rapid weight loss, nutritional deficiencies, and the body's metabolic response to sudden calorie restriction.

Why Are GLP-1 Users Facing Excessive Hair Loss?

According to Dr. Gaurav Garg, Senior Dermatologist, Hair Transplant Surgeon, Dermato-Surgeon and Medical Director at Dermalife Skin and Hair Clinic, New Delhi, cases have become increasingly common in dermatology clinics.

"We are seeing a significant rise in patients complaining of excessive hair shedding after taking GLP-1 weight loss medications. Around 40% of the weight loss drug users visiting our clinics are experiencing mild to significant hair loss, with many noticing hair falling out in large clumps while washing or combing. In most cases, the medication itself is not directly damaging the hair. The problem is rapid weight loss, nutritional deficiencies and the metabolic shock experienced by the body," Dr. Garg said.

He added that the increasing use of these medications without proper medical supervision is further contributing to the problem.

"Ozempic isn't the enemy of your hair; malnutrition and metabolic shock are. By ensuring gradual weight loss and proper nutritional support under expert guidance, many of these problems can be prevented," he said.

Also read: UK Woman Spends £4,000 On Wegovy, Mounjaro, But Loses Less Than 14 Pounds In 15 Months

What Is 'Ozempic Hair'?

'Ozempic Hair' is not a medical diagnosis but a popular term for telogen effluvium, a temporary phase of hair loss due to stress. Rapid weight loss acts as a physical stressor, causing a larger number of hair follicles to enter the resting phase prematurely.

Hair shedding usually becomes noticeable three to four months after a user starts taking GLP-1 drugs. Reduced appetite during treatment may also result in deficiencies of all the nutrients that are important for hair growth. For example, protein, iron, zinc and biotin.

Also read: GLP-1 Microdosing: People Are Experimenting With Weight Loss Drugs & What Do Experts Have To Say About It?

Experts Warn Against Self-Medication

Dr. Garg cautioned that weight loss injections are increasingly being used for cosmetic purposes rather than for legitimate medical conditions.

"One of the biggest concerns today is that these weight loss injections are increasingly being viewed as quick-fix cosmetic solutions rather than prescription medicines meant for specific medical conditions. Many people begin taking them after watching social media content or on the advice of friends, without understanding the nutritional consequences. Hair shedding in most cases is temporary, but prevention is always better than treatment. These medications should never be used casually or without expert supervision," he said.

He stressed that people undergoing medical weight loss should receive appropriate dietary counselling, consume adequate protein, and undergo regular monitoring to reduce nutritional complications.

Echoing these concerns, Dr. Ramanjeet Singh, Director, Department of Dermatology, Medanta Hospital, said the trend reflects the risks of unsupervised use of GLP-1 medications.

"The emerging trend of 'Ozempic Hair' highlights the risks associated not only with rapid weight loss but also with the indiscriminate use of these medications without proper medical evaluation. We are increasingly seeing individuals obtaining weight loss drugs without specialist consultation or using them beyond recommended doses in pursuit of faster results. Hair shedding in such cases usually represents telogen effluvium triggered by rapid metabolic changes and nutritional deficiencies rather than permanent damage to the hair follicles," Dr. Singh said.

He added that the condition is generally reversible with timely intervention, balanced nutrition and medically supervised weight management.

Dermatologists advise people considering prescription weight loss medications to undergo a medical evaluation before starting treatment.

Maintaining adequate protein intake, avoiding crash diets, correcting iron and vitamin deficiencies where necessary, and seeking early dermatological care if excessive hair shedding develops may help reduce the severity and duration of hair loss.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the 'Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan'.

It is a nationwide 100-week campaign aimed at discouraging young people from substance abuse through community participation, awareness activities and various other initiatives.

About Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan

Launched via video conferencing, the campaign seeks to transform young Indians into ambassadors of a drug-free society. The campaign has weekly events scheduled every Sunday across the country.

More than 10,000 locations joined the launch virtually, bringing together MY Bharat volunteers, National Service Scheme (NSS) members, schools, colleges, universities, NGOs, industry associations and over 125 spiritual organisations.

Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Modi said that a healthy and drug-free youth population is essential for building a developed India (Viksit Bharat).

The Prime Minister said, "A drug-free youth is the greatest strength of Viksit Bharat. This campaign should reach every village, every town and every city through Jan Bhagidari."

He also said that substance abuse not only destroys individual lives and families but can also become a tool used by hostile enemy forces to weaken the country's future.

He also said, "Drugs destroy families, careers and the future of young people. Parents, teachers and society must come together to protect our youth from this menace." A healthy youth is the greatest strength of a Viksit Bharat. If our young generation stays fit physically and mentally, no force can stop India's progress."

Also read: Healthcare In India No Longer A Privilege, Becoming A Right: PM Modi

What Will Happen Over The Next 100 Weeks?

Unlike one-day awareness campaigns, the initiative is designed as a long-term public movement. Every Sunday, communities across India will organise activities such as:

• Walkathons and cycling events
• Sports competitions
• Meditation and yoga sessions
• Nukkad nataks and cultural programmes
• Art and poster competitions
• Community discussions and awareness drives

The government hopes the sustained weekly engagement will encourage behavioural change, especially among adolescents and young adults, while strengthening grassroots participation.

Also read: PM Modi Pledges 7.5 million For Cancer Moonshot Initiative: What Is It

A Broad Anti-Drug Strategy

The campaign builds on a series of youth-focused initiatives launched this year under the 'Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat' umbrella, including the National Nasha Mukti Quiz, awareness programmes in educational institutions, the Nasha Mukti Anthem initiative and youth conclaves across the country.

These efforts are part of the broader Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, which has been expanded nationwide to curb drug problem through prevention, awareness and community engagement.

Officials say the latest campaign aims to create a society-level movement by bringing together educational institutions, youth organisations, society groups, corporate bodies and spiritual organisations on a common platform.

With one crore youth also taking the Nasha Mukti pledge during the launch, the government hopes the campaign will evolve into one of India's largest community-led efforts to prevent substance abuse.

Millionaire longevity entrepreneur Bryan Johnson has launched a new $2.6 million women's health research project focused on his partner, Kate Tolo's menstrual blood.

Known for his unconventional longevity experiments, Johnson is now aiming to better understand women's reproductive health by preserving and studying Kate's menstrual blood.

“Kate’s period blood is in my -80 °C freezer. Around 10 mL,” he shared in a post on social media platform X.

He added that “menstrual blood is valuable and underutilized,” as it contains “endometrial cells, immune cells and stem cells.”

Why Is Bryan Johnson Studying Menstrual Blood?

Calling both himself and Kate "science experiments," Johnson said the 100-day project aims to:

• Look for diseased tissue
• Measure microplastics
• Measure endocrine disruptors
• Measure PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances)

“It’s a non-invasive look into the uterus. This is great because you get the data without surgical biopsy, it can be repeated every single cycle, and it measures the uterine environment directly instead of inferring it from a standard blood draw,” Bryan said.

Also read: Bryan Johnson Plans To Create 'Bryan In A Dish' Living Lab To Test Experimental Autoimmune Treatments

Inside the $2.6 Million 100-Day Project

The project requires Kate to follow an intensive 24/7 routine designed to create what the couple says will be the most detailed dataset ever collected on the female menstrual cycle.

Her minute-by-minute schedule includes more than 100 daily tasks, 50 monitoring devices, and an experimental "techno tampon," generating an estimated 14 million data points under the supervision of a 12-person medical team.

"I am going to be the world's most measured women in this process," Kate shared in in a video posted on Instagram.

The project, backed by the couple's company Immortals, costs an estimated $2.6 million a year.

Kate will collect approximately 14 million data points on her menstrual cycle.

Read More: Bryan Johnson Blames Sugary Cereals, Soda and Stress for His Autoimmune Disease; Shares Treatment Plan

Kate Tolo's Health Conditions

Kate has previously revealed that she has endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and adenomyosis—painful gynecological conditions that she hopes this ambitious research project will help better understand and eventually treat.

“I’m measuring 1,900 biomarkers over the next 100 days to better understand female biology,” she said.

“This will be the most quantified menstrual cycle ever. And this is just to collect baseline measurements. Once we’re done with the 100 days, we’ll start trying interventions. We’ll post all results, including the good, bad and ugly, in addition to sharing all the practical insights,” Bryan added on X.

Earlier, Bryan claimed his team diagnosed Kate's endometriosis “in 42 days… which is 57x faster than average.” The condition affects approximately 10% of women of reproductive age globally and takes an average of 10 years to diagnose.

According to Bryan, his team diagnosed her “without surgery. Via ultrasound, blood test, and MRI.”

Bryan Johnson's Goal

Bryan, who has said he is living with the autoimmune condition autoimmune atrophic gastritis (AIG) and is undergoing treatment, believes advances in AI and biotechnology could help find treatments for both his condition and Kate's endometriosis.

“My sincere goal is to try and heal the sick. With AI and biotech, we no longer have to concede to disease. We don’t need to wait for big, billion-dollar companies to do it for us. I’ll cure my AIG, and we will cure Kate’s endo, and then make the same available to others.”