The symptoms of ovarian cancer have long been described as vague. An early marketing campaign declared ovarian cancer to be a Silent Killer. Another said, "It Whispers, So Listen."

Yet, in most cases, women experience very real symptoms that may be overlooked or misdiagnosed as a more benign condition such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome or menopause.

Experts in gynecological cancer now agree that most women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer present with one or more of these four symptoms:

• abdominal or pelvic pain
• bloating
• difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
• urinary symptoms (an increase in the urgency or frequency)

Other symptoms may be present as well. They include fatigue, indigestion, back pain, pain with intercourse, constipation, menstrual irregularities and unexplained weight gain or loss.

If a woman experiences one or more of these symptoms as a change on a daily or near-daily basis for two or three weeks, she should see a physician -- preferably a gynecologist. If that doctor is unable to diagnose the cause of those symptoms, and if the symptoms persist, she should see another doctor.

Some diagnostic tools the doctor might use are a vaginal-rectal pelvic exam, a CA-125 blood test, a trans-vaginal ultrasound and a CT scan.

For more information on symptoms, consult the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance website.

KNOW THE SYMPTOMS. LISTEN TO YOUR BODY. TAKE ACTION.