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Like most women diagnosed with ovarian cancer, Pamela Herman's initial symptoms weren't exactly clear. For Herman, it began with going off birth control pills just after her 40th birthday.

"Almost immediately after I stopped taking them, I started feeling abdominal pain, and I felt it on the right side," Herman said. "I thought it was just a result of not taking the pill."

Months went by before she finally learned it was ovarian cancer, the most deadly type of cancer to strike the reproductive system. Treatment options and survival rates have greatly improved, and the earlier it's detected, the better the outcome.

However, according to the American Cancer Society, less than 20 percent of ovarian cancer is discovered at an early stage, mostly because the symptoms are often elusive.

"The evolution of it tends to be very rapid," said Dr. Jamal Rahaman of Mt. Sinai Medical Center. "Even if you have a normal examination and a normal ultrasound six months prior--and even three months prior--it evolves very quickly, and that's why it escapes early detection."

The need for early detection spurred organizations across the U.S. and around the globe to launch the BEAT ovarian cancer awareness campaign. Not only is the word BEAT meant to be motivational, but it is also a tool for recognizing possible symptoms.

B stands for Bloating that is persistent. E is for Eating less, but sometimes feeling fuller. A is for Abdominal pain. T is for Trouble with your bladder.

Because the symptoms can be similar to several health woes, doctors caution about striking the balance between awareness of the symptoms and paranoia.

The key thing to look out for is whether symptoms are persistent over a period of about two to three weeks. If they persist, that's a clear sign to see a doctor.

Pamela Herman will be a 10-year cancer survivor in April 2011. She only had one symptom, but luckily did not ignore it.

"I was in the best shape of my life. I had one symptom, abdominal pain, which is generally not something women with early-stage ovarian cancer present with," she said. "I think what I did right was I went back to the doctor."

The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition is encouraging communities nationwide to continue to raise awareness and get involved in their new BEAT campaign.

For more information and a downloadable BEAT campaign flyer, go to www.ovarian.org, ovariancancer.org, www.thegcf.org and www.ocrf.org.