Recent study revealed that blood tests and ultrasound scans can diagnose deadly ovarian cancer at the most early and treatable stages. According to statistics, ovarian cancer was diagnosed in more than 21,000 women in the United States in 2008 and it killed more than 15,000; in Britain 7,000 women are affected by it annually and more than 4,000 lost their lives due to it.

Findings were based on the data collected from 200,000 women. Study found that both tests together caught 90 percent of ovarian cancer cases, whereas ultrasound alone each year caught 75 percent. Importance of this study lies in the fact that early diagnosis can help in saving many women.

Peter Reynolds of Britain's Ovarian Cancer Action said: "The initial findings of this long-term study are encouraging, particularly because almost half of the ovarian cancers detected were at an early stage (stage 1), when survival rates can be as high as 90 percent."

Ian Jacobs and Usha Menon of University College London said that both the CA125 blood test and the transvaginal ultrasound test have been fine-tuned in recent years and now offer more useful information to doctors.