There's still no good test to detect ovarian cancer the way mammograms detect breast cancer, and pap smears detect cervical cancer. For most patients, what's available is a blood test, called CA-125, that may detect ovarian cancer. But experts say it's accurate only about 60 percent of the time.

Now, researchers in Florida are working on a urine test that might be better. The marker is a protein in the urine, called BCL-2.

Researchers looked at samples from women with and without ovarian cancer.

"Regardless of the stage, the BCL-2 urinary levels were at least 10 times greater than women without ovarian cancer," said Patricia Kruk, PhD University of South Florida.

If there's a vaccine for cervical cancer, why not ovarian cancer? Researchers are working on that at the University of Washington.

Dr. Mary (Nora) Disis is trying to find ways to boost the immune system in women who've already had ovarian cancer, to prevent a recurrence.

Eventually she hopes to find a way to prevent ovarian or breast cancer altogether.

“You just look at these women's faces and you know you have to do something,” she said.

As for treatment of ovarian cancer, surgery, chemotherapy and radiation continue to be the standard of care.

But surgery techniques are becoming less and less invasive.

At Swedish Medical Center, Dr. Pam Paley uses a robot called "Da Vinci" to make tiny and more accurate incisions.

The result is less pain, faster recovery, and smaller scars.