Health awareness

Stomach cancer: understanding the signs and symptoms

Learn more about stomach cancer risk factors and our commitment to patients

November 3, 2023

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What causes stomach cancer?

Stomach cancer, also called gastric cancer, occurs when malignant (cancer) cells form in the lining of the stomach. The most common form of stomach cancer is adenocarcinoma, which develops when glandular cells in the innermost lining of the stomach grow uncontrollably.

How common is stomach cancer?

It is estimated there will be approximately 26,500 patients diagnosed with stomach cancer in the U.S. in 2023.

Who’s at risk for stomach cancer?

Anybody can be diagnosed with stomach cancer; however, it’s almost twice as common in men, and most people are older than 55 when diagnosed. In the U.S., the number of new stomach cancer cases per year is higher in Black, Hispanic, American Indian and Asian communities compared with non-Hispanic white communities.

You may also have a higher chance of developing stomach cancer if you:

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Have had a Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection, which is an infection of the stomach, that commonly causes stomach ulcers.

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Are overweight or obese.

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Have a diet high in salty, smoked, pickled or salt-preserved foods and/or high in processed or grilled meats. Eating few or no fruits likely increases the risk of stomach cancer.

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Drink three or more alcoholic beverages per day.

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Use tobacco.

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Have had previous stomach surgery or health conditions, such as low stomach acid and bile reflux.

What are the signs and symptoms of stomach cancer?

Early-stage stomach cancer rarely causes symptoms, which is why most cases are diagnosed after they have spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body. In the U.S., there are currently no routine screening recommendations for stomach cancer. If you think you might be at increased risk for stomach cancer, consider asking your doctor about being screened. When stomach cancer does cause symptoms, they may include:

  1. Fatigue
  2. Heartburn, indigestion and anemia
  3. Swelling or fluid build-up in the abdomen, jaundice or weight loss without trying
  4. Poor appetite, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting with or without blood or feeling full after a small meal
  5. Blood in stool

Any of these warning signs should be discussed with a doctor, especially if you feel you’re at risk for stomach cancer.

If you have questions about stomach cancer and its symptoms, it’s important to discuss these with your doctor. Some questions to ask your doctor may include:

  • Q: Can young people be diagnosed with stomach cancer?
    A: While the majority of stomach cancer patients are over 60 years old, it’s important to know that younger people can also be diagnosed with stomach cancer. Nearly 5% of patients diagnosed with stomach cancer are under 40 years old.
  • Q: How do doctors determine the stage of a stomach cancer?
    A: When someone is diagnosed with stomach cancer, doctors will conduct tests, such as endoscopic procedures, biopsies and imaging, to help determine how far the cancer has spread. By staging stomach cancer, doctors can determine how serious the cancer is and the best way to treat it.

"When facing a stomach cancer diagnosis, some patients may have existing misconceptions about the disease or be unsure about what this diagnosis will mean for them."

— Dr. Pooja Bhagia

GI clinical research scientist, Merck Research Laboratories

“Having an open conversation with your doctor about your questions and concerns may alleviate some worry and help you understand what to expect in your cancer journey,” she added.

Our work in oncology

Health awareness

How you can help slow the threat of antimicrobial resistance

The growing burden of AMR is threatening the return to a world without effective antibiotics

October 30, 2023

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Before antibiotics were discovered in the 20th century, contracting an infection could be fatal. Their discovery was a turning point in human history, revolutionizing medicine and saving countless lives. However, the growing burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is threatening the return to a world without effective antibiotics.

We all have a responsibility to address this threat, and it will take dedicated efforts from all sectors across health care, including patients, to make a difference.

Here are four groups that can play a role in helping slow the threat of AMR:

01.

Patients

Be vigilant in infection prevention efforts and always use antibiotics correctly

We each play an important role in slowing the threat of AMR— starting with preventing infections that require antibiotics in the first place. Washing hands, preparing food hygienically and keeping up to date with vaccinations are all measures to help avoid infections.

Another important action patients can take is using antibiotics only when they’re needed. Always follow health care providers’ (HCPs) directions and never share or take leftover antibiotics, which may not be needed and may cause resistance. If your HCP believes antibiotics are not the correct treatment to help your condition, ask about other options. Taking antibiotics when they’re not needed may advance AMR. Bottom line: It is important to follow the guidance that your medical team gives you for treatment.

Antimicrobial resistance pill

02.

Health care professionals

Be a source of antibiotic guidance

HCPs and medical systems need to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics. It’s up to the health care providers to help ensure that the right treatment is given based on an accurate diagnosis. Hospitals should have a plan in place, with principles customized to their local needs, to guide the appropriate use of these medicines.

Nurse consulting patient

03.

Policymakers

Encourage antimicrobial innovation

We need new antibiotic options to stay ahead of the evolving bacteria. Governments can help. Incentive packages can provide a sustainable return on investment for the development of new antimicrobials. Encouraging innovation would allow companies to invest in the research and development needed. As a result, this would help provide health care professionals around the world with the tools they need to help patients fighting infections.

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04.

Industry leaders

Invest in new developments

Finally, the participation of leading biopharmaceutical companies is crucial to addressing the growing threat of AMR.

For more than 100 years, Merck has played a significant role in the discovery and development of novel medicines and vaccines to combat infectious diseases. And, in an effort to affect widespread change, we’ve supported efforts around the world that aim to address AMR through surveillance initiatives, collaborating with hospitals to fund education and implement stewardship programs, and advocating for substantial policy changes.

Researcher in the lab

There is no single solution to the complex problem of AMR; it’s up to all of us to take collective action. We hope you’ll join our efforts and play your individual part to help ensure that patients have access to the antibiotics they need, now and in the future.

Health awareness

Understanding adult pneumonia: causes, symptoms and risk factors

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that can cause serious complications

October 27, 2023

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What is pneumonia?

Pneumonia is an infection of one or both lungs that can make it difficult to breathe and limit your ability to get sufficient oxygen. In 2019, pneumonia was the second leading cause of hospital admissions for U.S. adults.

What are the signs and symptoms of pneumonia?

Pneumonia can present differently in people based on a variety of factors, but common symptoms include:

Fever

Wheezing / difficulty breathing

Cough

Chills

Rapid breathing

Chest pains

Confusion

Loss of appetite

Which adults are most at risk?

Anyone can get pneumonia, but older adults are particularly at risk.

Medical conditions such as diabetes, chronic heart disease, COPD and HIV can also increase risks of pneumonia — even in younger adults.

illustration woman coughing

What can cause pneumonia?

There are two main types of pneumonia — viral pneumonia and bacterial pneumonia.

Bacterial pneumonia is often caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Pneumococcal pneumonia is one of the most common infections caused by this bacteria.

How does pneumonia spread?

Viral and bacterial pneumonias are contagious. People who are infected can spread the virus or the bacteria with respiratory droplets in the air when they cough, sneeze or talk. People can occasionally catch pneumonia by touching something that has the virus or bacteria on it and then touching their noses or mouths.

Ask your health care provider for more information.

Innovation

Our Q3 2023 earnings report

October 26, 2023

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Merck’s (NYSE: MRK) Q3 2023 results reflect sustained growth, particularly in oncology and vaccines. Our company announced Q3 worldwide sales of $16.0 billion, an increase of 7% from Q3 2022. ​

“Our strong results this quarter reflect our talented team’s commitment to bringing forward important innovation and pursuing breakthroughs for all those who count on us,” said Rob Davis, chairman and chief executive officer, Merck. “We continue to push the boundaries of science, making disciplined investments to augment our diverse pipeline and applying our expertise to accelerate potentially transformative treatments to address patient needs — including through our recently announced collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo. I am proud of our progress as we continue to execute at the highest level and work to generate strong and sustainable value, today and well into the future.” ​

Merck anticipates full-year 2023 worldwide sales to be between $59.7 billion and $60.2 billion.​

Take a look at the infographic below for more details on Q3 2023 results. 

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Health awareness

Staying positive with pulmonary arterial hypertension

From struggling to breathe to advocating for others, one woman with PAH shares her story

October 24, 2023

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A decade ago, Nola Martin was having trouble breathing, and she was gaining weight. She assumed it was simple: She started to focus on improving her diet and getting more exercise, but she wasn’t seeing results.

“Little did I know the situation was a lot more serious than that,” she said.

Martin was diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and scleroderma. PAH is a disease of high blood pressure in the lungs. Her PAH was associated with scleroderma, a connective tissue disease that can affect the skin, blood vessels and organs and can cause PAH.

“I had two illnesses, and I had no idea what they were from. How did I get them? I was hearing all these terms I’d never heard of before.”

  • Nola Martin

Finding the right care

Martin said that the confusion and complexity of having two chronic diseases made the beginning of her journey the most challenging. Through her experience with PAH, she said she learned that “you must find a facility that is familiar with your disease.” She recommends the Pulmonary Hypertension Association as a great place to start learning about PAH.

While she knows her PAH is progressive, she chooses to stay positive.

“What I learned about advocating for myself with PAH is that no one is going to fight as hard for me as I will,” said Martin. “I know my body. I know when something is different, but I also know that my doctors are not mind readers. If I don’t share with them what is going on, including the smallest details, they can’t give me the proper treatment I need.”

Staying hopeful through connection

It’s important to Martin to connect with other PAH patients and educate people about the disease.

Since her diagnosis, she’s educated numerous people about PAH and scleroderma. She believes in the importance of raising awareness and telling her story. It’s sometimes hard for her to explain to people that even if she doesn’t appear sick, she may still be dealing with difficult symptoms.

“PAH has affected so much of my daily life — simple things like vacuuming, doing the laundry, taking a shower and going to the grocery store,” Martin said. “I encourage others to be understanding and avoid making assumptions about a person with PAH based on their outward appearance.”

She urges people to be supportive and listen when someone shares their story.

Innovation

Merck’s legacy of antimicrobial innovation and action

Delivering on our commitment to fight infectious diseases for more than a century

October 12, 2023

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For more than 100 years, Merck has contributed to the discovery and development of novel medicines and vaccines to fight infectious diseases. With the growing burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), we’ve focused on stopping the increasing threat of AMR. 

1930s

Merck Research Laboratories played a central role in the development of sulfas, the first synthetic antimicrobial.

1940s

In collaboration with Rutgers University, we developed streptomycin, the first antibiotic effective against tuberculosis. We also helped to develop one of the first methods for mass production of penicillin.

1950s & 1960s

We developed multiple novel methods to prevent infectious diseases, including pediatric vaccines.

1970s & 1980s

We received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for two vaccines, as well as three antibiotics that treat a variety of bacterial infections.

1990s & 2000s

Merck received U.S. FDA approval for two antifungals, as well as licenses for two vaccines.​

2002

With resistance to antibiotics developing faster through people, animals and the environment, we launched one of the world’s largest and longest-running antimicrobial resistance surveillance studies. Called the Study for Monitoring Antimicrobial Resistance Trends (SMART), the program enables researchers to monitor and identify trends in the development of AMR.

2010s

We launched an Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) Investigator Initiated Studies program, supporting investigator-based, peer-reviewed research supporting the implementation of AMS principles across the globe, with over 20% of studies occurring in low-and middle-income countries.

2016

We created the Merck Exploratory Science Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts, focusing on the earliest stages of research into the underlying biology of human disease.

2016-2017

We supported the first United Nations high-level meeting on AMR and subsequent political declaration in 2016, which set policy action on AMR in motion.

As a next step, we joined the newly founded AMR Industry Alliance – a network of over 100 pharmaceutical industry partners working to provide sustainable solutions to help curb antimicrobial resistance.

2020

Merck, along with a group of more than 20 leading biopharmaceutical companies, launched the AMR Action Fund to bring 2-4 new antibiotics to patients by the end of the decade.

2020s

Our staff have championed government actions to create supportive markets for antimicrobial innovation, including the PASTEUR Act in the U.S., inclusion of transferable exclusivity extensions in the EU pharmaceutical strategy, and other incentives around the world.

By collaborating with policymakers, Merck aims to improve appropriate antibiotic use globally.

Going forward

In recognition of our leadership in both human and animal health, Merck represents industry in the One Health Global Leaders Group on Antimicrobial Resistance, which advocates for a One Health approach to help ensure antibiotics remain an important tool in improving and maintaining human and animal health.

Our people

Here for Good: A lifelong mission against HIV

A colleague transformed personal grief and tragedy into a lifelong mission to help persons living with HIV

October 12, 2023

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Richard Liu’s work in HIV began in 1988, and it’s continued to this day.

“At the time, many members of the community were not only scared and frightened about HIV, but many of them were suffering from either the disease itself or the discrimination and bias directed toward them,” Liu said. “For me, education and outreach was a way to feel empowered and to empower members of my community.”

He also experienced firsthand how devastating HIV could be, falling in love with a man he’d eventually lose to AIDS.

“I found my strength when I looked back and thought about all the situations that Scott and I faced, I learned I was stronger than I ever believed I was,” Liu said. “And I kind of knew after that I needed to do something more. My purpose at that time was loving and caring for him until the end, and I needed to find another purpose. And that purpose became fighting HIV.”

Liu followed that purpose into a role as one of Philadelphia’s youngest HIV program directors, focusing on promoting prevention, testing and care. His passion eventually brought him to Merck, where he is a member of our global marketing division assigned to the HIV franchise, leading the development of promotional content for health care providers.

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“I'm doing exactly what I've always wanted to do: be useful, be valuable and use what I can to fight HIV. And I've been given this incredible role at this company to do that.”

— Richard Liu

As a part of the Merck team, Liu, now happily married, has always felt he could bring his authentic self to work — and that feeling started during his interview with a recruiter. There were some moments in his personal history during his earlier work as an AIDS activist that he knew he’d have to explain.

“I wanted to disclose my arrest record because I thought it might come up in a background check,” Liu explained. “I was charged with obstruction of highway because I was participating in AIDS protests, so I wanted to be clear why I was arrested and given those charges.”

The instinct to be candid was a good one, he learned.  “When I was offered the job, I really felt like, wow, this company is willing to recognize my authentic self, including my activism.”

Liu’s estimation of Merck and our values — and the part he can play in the work we do for patients — hasn’t changed.

“I feel like my fight against HIV is perfectly aligned with our company’s commitment toward innovation and to persons living with HIV,” he said.

Health awareness

Acting early in cancer detection

Diagnosing cancer early, before it has spread, may potentially lead to better outcomes

October 12, 2023

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Three senior-age men talking and laughing

Time is important with a cancer diagnosis. People with cancer may have the opportunity for better outcomes when the disease is detected early. And with increases in routine cancer screening, more cancer cases can be diagnosed before the disease has spread to other parts of the body.

“We’ve seen incredible progress in the fight against cancer in recent decades, driven by advances in early detection and the availability of new treatment options,” said Dr. Gregory Lubiniecki, vice president, oncology clinical research. “This progress makes me optimistic for a future where cancer is detected and treated as early as possible, giving patients the greatest chance to live cancer-free. We can’t rest now — I’m hopeful that we will continue to build on what we’ve learned about helping people with earlier stages of disease.”

But important work remains to continue to improve care and diagnose cancer early.

What is early-stage cancer?

After someone is diagnosed with cancer, doctors will try to figure out how much cancer is in the body and if their disease has spread — this process is called staging, which can help guide treatment decisions. Different cancer stages have different treatments and possible outcomes, and they’re associated with different odds of recurrence. 

Early-stage is a term that can be used to describe cancer that’s early in its growth, before it has spread to other parts of the body. However, each person’s experience with cancer is unique, and what doctors may define as early-stage can vary by the type of cancer.

When cancer is diagnosed, the goals of treatments are to slow, stop and possibly eliminate tumor growth.

Treatment may be more likely to be successful if it’s started before the cancer has spread, when surgery is a potential option. However, even after surgery, there is a risk that the cancer may spread to other parts of the body. Additional treatment may help lower that risk. In certain instances, other treatment options can be used before surgery (neoadjuvant) to help to reduce the size of the tumor, and/or after surgery (adjuvant) to lower the chance of the cancer from potentially coming back.

Detecting and treating cancer early may help reduce the risk of recurrence and increase the potential for survival.

Watch the video:

Health awareness

A physician committed to advancing pneumococcal disease research

Dr. Kristen Feemster and her team work to help address pneumococcal disease for people of all ages

October 11, 2023

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Before becoming an executive director of global medical affairs at Merck, Dr. Kristen Feemster practiced as a pediatric infectious disease physician. Early in her career, Feemster and her team cared for a 1-year-old patient suffering from pneumococcal meningitis. Sadly, the child succumbed to his illness. Feemster recalls the emotions she felt knowing her own son of about the same age could also be at risk.

“I could barely stay in the room to talk to the child’s parents. As a parent myself, seeing them go through such a devastating loss led me to ask why this happened and what could have prevented the outcome,” said Feemster.

“I was determined to do what I could to help protect people of all ages from pneumococcal disease and its impact.”

At Merck, Feemster and her team work to better understand and communicate the continued epidemiologic impact of pneumococcal disease across all stages of life.

“Knowing that pneumococcal disease remains a leading cause of illness and death globally, I’m inspired by the opportunity to help address challenging and emerging diseases,” she said.

While some factors, like age or underlying medical conditions, can increase the risk of contracting an infection, anyone can get pneumococcal disease.

Noninvasive pneumococcal disease, such as otitis media or pneumonia, are also important contributors to morbidity in children. Recent reports suggest IPD remains a concern and certain serotypes continue to emerge as prevalent causes of serious disease with sometimes life-threatening complications.

Feemster and her Merck colleagues remain committed to addressing pneumococcal disease in people of all ages.

“Too many people worldwide don’t have access to effective treatment and supportive care,” she said. “It’s important that we continue to improve surveillance capabilities and explore this bacterium with such a complex epidemiology. We’ve learned a great deal, but there’s so much left to understand and more that we can do.”

baby being examined by a doctor

Invasive pneumococcal disease can lead to a number of serious illnesses in children

Learn more
Innovation

Uniting research and manufacturing to help patients faster

The opening of our updated site in Ireland will increase collaboration and speed to market

October 5, 2023

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Great science requires collaboration. At Merck, scientists and engineers from across the company work together to achieve our purpose of using the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives.

And at our new state-of-the-art site in Dunboyne, Ireland, we’re bringing together our research and manufacturing teams for the first time to support stronger collaboration during the development and manufacturing of clinical supplies.

“At Dunboyne, we’ll see the power of teamwork between the teams, creating a model that becomes our new way of working,” said Sanat Chattopadhyay, executive vice president and president, Merck Manufacturing Division. “This site offers the chance to harness the expertise of our exceptional manufacturing and research teams.”

Representatives from Merck meet with Leo Varadkar (center), the country’s prime minister — known as the taoiseach — and other Irish officials to celebrate the milestone.

Two facilities, one team

The two components of our Dunboyne site will play a pivotal role in our biologics pipeline. Combined, they represent our first single-use commercialization facility dedicated to manufacturing key biologics for clinical trials, product registration and launch. At the nearby manufacturing facility, teams design the process engineering necessary to produce biologics at a large scale.

The close collaboration of these teams will significantly increase our speed to market and ultimately quicken our ability to help patients.

"This integrated approach will use state-of-the-art scientific and technological innovations to get our medicines to people around the world who need them the most, faster than ever before.”

— Mike Kress

Senior vice president, chemistry, Merck Research Laboratories

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