Currently there’s no test for ovarian cancer, and this silent killer of women isn’t typically diagnosed until it’s too late for effective treatment. But researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center are advising that if you have the leading persistent symptoms linked to ovarian cancer—abdominal or pelvic pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, and abdominal bloating—you should seek a CA-125 blood test to rule out ovarian cancer.

These symptoms, in combination with the blood test, may improve early detection of ovarian cancer by as much as 20%, the researchers write in the journal Cancer.

Cure rates for ovarian cancer when the cancer remains confined to an ovary are approximately 70% to 90%. However, 70% of women with ovarian cancer are diagnosed with advanced-stage disease, at which the survival rate is only 20% to 30%. This study found that when used together, the symptoms plus the blood test can boost early-detection rates to more than 80% and late-stage detection rates to more than 95%.

The researchers advise seeking a CA-125 blood test or transvaginal ultrasound from your healthcare provider if you have had any of the symptoms associated with ovarian cancer at least once a month for the past year, or if symptoms are even more frequent.