Ovarian cancer is often found in advanced stages. Detecting the cancer at the early stages is difficult because the vague symptoms are often missed by physicians who may think other causes are responsible.

A new screening test can help physicians detect ovarian cancer by offering the patients a checklist of symptoms. As many as 90 percent of ovarian cancers can be cured if detected in the early stages. Patients need to know what symptoms to look out for and track the frequency of the symptoms they are experiencing.

The symptoms on the checklist included pelvic and abdominal pain, urinary frequency and urgency, increased abdominal size or bloating; and difficultly eating or feeling full. The screening test picked up early stage ovarian cancer 57 percent of the time, and advanced staged disease 80 percent of the time.

Sherry Salway Black, executive director of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance and a survivor of the disease, said the screening test could change how people think about ovarian cancer. "There is not a lot of general public awareness of the symptoms and risk factors" Black said. "Giving women more information and helping them to be more informed about their own health is critical"