A not-so-silent killer: activists won a fight to have the medical establishment recognize that ovarian cancer has early symptoms. But that is only half the battle.

Byline: Marie McCullough

Jun. 25--When a gynecologist and three other doctors misdiagnosed April Donahue's symptoms for six months, their confusion was understandable.

She was 24 years old, complaining of bloating and abdominal pain. Even a diagnostician as brilliant as cable television's Dr. House might not have suspected she had ovarian cancer, a relatively uncommon disease that typically develops after menopause.

But she did. It was discovered only because her gynecologist removed what he thought was an ovarian cyst. Fortunately, the tumor was still in an early stage.

Ten years later, when Donahue again developed persistent bloating and abdominal pain, the confusion was not so understandable.

"My gynecologist said, 'You should see a gastroenterologist,'" recalled Donahue, who lives in Kintnersville, Bucks County. "I said, 'No, I'm going to see a gynecological oncologist.' "

Surgery confirmed that the 34-year-old had cancer in her remaining ovary.

Now 40 and president of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, Donahue and legions of sister survivors have been urging experts to stop calling the disease a "silent killer" and start raising awareness of its symptoms.

Their hard-earned wisdom is finally winning out.

Three prominent cancer organizations declared their consensus this month that ovarian cancer does have warning…