LEXINGTON, Ky. - Ovarian cancer is a common problem and it kills thousands of women each year.

The numbers are eye-opening. In 2019, more than 20,000 new cases of ovarian cancer will be detected and more than 13,000 women will die because of the disease according to the University of Kentucky.

UK is offering a free screening as part of research study. It’s for any woman over the age of 50. Women who are 25 or older can get the screening, if they have a documented family history of ovarian cancer.

“We have over 45,000 women in the study that's enough to fill Rupp Arena twice," Dr. Edward Pavlik said. 

Dr. Edward Pavlik heads up the program. It started in the late 1980's and it has a very personal meaning to him.

“When I first came here Virginia McCandless was president of the Kentucky Extension of Homemakers and she was very quickly diagnosed with ovarian cancer.  I remember the day she came and visited us after that happened and said you guys have to do something," Dr. Pavlik said. 

Decades later, the free screening program has led to earlier detection and treatment of what is often called the silent killer of women.

Since this is a disease of people over 45 over 50 we all have gotten use to say I’ve got my aches and my pains I’m not going to worry about another ache or pain. I think I've been to the doctor enough and so what we really need is this type of intervention where we can say we can see an image inside your abdomen with ultrasound in a safe way and a painless way and I say painless as a man having never have it," Dr. Pavlik said. 

Women who have had the screening will tell you it is painless and only takes about five to ten minutes. The staff also walks you through every step of the process. Even if the results aren't what you would have hoped for.

“If the person has an abnormal screen we will follow it in a serial sense so that if it goes away then there is nothing to worry about and if it persists and get something that we are more concerned about it then we need make some asking of questions about what's going on," Dr. Pavlik said. 

Chemotherapy and surgery are often used in combination to treat ovarian cancer. Getting checked out could easily mean the difference between life or death.

“It's the deadliest of the cancers that women face and more so if look at the numbers though it's rarer than breast cancer it's much more deadly," Dr. Pavlik said.