Cancer is a disease that knows no barrier. It can strike anyone at any age--children, men and women. Two types of cancer that affect women are ovarian cancer and uterine cancer.
Ovarian Cancer
A woman has ovarian cancer when malignant cells are discovered in the ovaries.
Detection/Symptoms
The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition's website states it is "difficult to discover ovarian cancer in the early stages because a woman's ovaries are deep within the abdominal cavity." Symptoms are bloating, abdominal or pelvic pain, trouble eating and frequent urination.
Uterine Cancer
A woman has uterine cancer when cancerous cells are found in the uterus.
Detection/Symptoms
If uterine cancer is found early, treatment can be successful. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) lists symptoms as "bleeding that is not normal for you ... and pain or pressure in the pelvis."
Connection
The CDC says that ovarian cancer and uterine cancer are among the cancers that can affect a woman's reproductive organs. The others are cervical, vaginal and vulvar cancer. While there doesn't seem to be a clear connection between ovarian cancer and uterine cancer, women with close relatives who have or had uterine cancer (or colon cancer or prostate cancer) are also at higher risk of ovarian cancer.
Prevention
There is no known way of preventing ovarian or uterine cancer. However, the use of birth control pills can reduce the risks for both cancers, as well as eating right, being active and maintaining a healthy weight, says the CDC.
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