Six Symptoms You Should Never Ignore

Ovarian cancer has been known as the "silent killer" because by the time it's detected, it is often too late: In advanced cases, the survival rate is less than 30 percent.

But researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine now say that there are six specific symptoms that can signal trouble:
1. Bloating
2. Increased abdominal size
3. Abdominal pain
4, Pelvic pain
5. Feeling full quickly
6. Difficulty eating (you can't finish a regular-size meal)

Of course, many of us experience problems like these from time to time, and they're usually not serious. "But see your doctor if the symptom is new, occurs every day or almost every day, and doesn't seem to be going away after a couple of weeks," says lead researcher Barbara Goff, M.D. If ovarian cancer is detected early, as many as 90 percent of cases can be cured.