IT'S TIME TO TALK!

I know this is a site about hair. . . but it's also a site for women. Women who may not have a clue about a very deadly form of cancer that strikes 20,000 of us each year. I know I knew nothing about it, and learned many of my friends didn't either. That's why I believe alerting women to this disease is so important. Please take a minute to read this. Remember, your health is in your hands!

PUREOLOGY TEAMS WITH NOCC TO BREAK THE SILENCE!

It's nice to find a haircare company that really cares about women. PureOlogy has already demonstrated this with products that are purely 100% vegan, contain no harsh chemicals, and none of the 26 fragrance allergens identified by the European Union.

And now they're taking it a step further. They want to raise awareness of a disease that's been called "The Silent Killer." A disease that often goes undiagnosed until prognosis is poor. Ovarian cancer strikes 20,000 women each year. And 15,000 women die of it.

That's why PureOlogy teamed with the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition to sponsor fundraising walks around the country to "Break the Silence," alert women to the signs and symptoms, and facilitate a greater dialogue that will lead to earlier diagnosis and improved survival rates.

A FEW FACTS

67% of women incorrectly believe that a yearly Pap test is effective in diagnosing ovarian cancer.

Not true. A Pap test is for cervical cancer. It won't tell you a thing about ovarian. There are currently no tests for ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer is usually a post-menopausal disease.

Not true. Ovarian cancer can strike at any age.

Ovarian cancer has definite symptoms.

Not true. Sometimes there are no symptoms at all. Other times, there are vague symptoms. Symptoms that all women experience at certain times of their lives. That's why we tend to ignore them. Doctors ignore them. It's time to speak up if you experience any of the following symptoms persistently over a two-week period.

• Pressure or pain in your abdomen or pelvis
• Swelling, bloating, gastrointestinal upset
• Frequent urination in the absence of an infection
• Persistent indigestion, gas or nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Unexplained weight loss or gain
• Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
• Increased abdominal girth or clothes fitting tighter around your waist
• A persistent lack of energy
• Lower back pain

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

If you have persistent symptoms, see your gynecologist for an internal exam and request a transvaginal ultrasound, a very simple test that can be done in-office. Ask for a blood test called a ca-125 that measures the level of an antigen, a protein molecule, that may be produced in excess when ovarian cancer cells are present. This is not a foolproof test, but if your ca-125 is well outside the normal range of 0-35, it's a very good indicator.

JOIN WITH PUREOLOGY AND THE NATIONAL OVARIAN CANCER COALITION TO RAISE AWARENESS.

Throughout 2008, NOCC and PureOlogy will host Fundraising Walks to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer around the U.S., with a national walk in Los Angeles, California on September 6th. Encourage your friends and family to sponsor you for this amazing event. For walks in your area, see the list below.

• September 6: Los Angeles, CA (National Walk)
• September 7: Dayton, OH
• September 13: Philadelphia, PA
• September 14: Pittsburgh, PA
• September 14: Providence, RI
• September 14: Nashua, NH
• September 20: Toledo, OH
• September 20: Sacramento, CA
• September 20: Omaha, NE
• September 20: Long Island, NY
• September 21: Boston, MA
• September 21: West Orange, NJ
• September 21: Columbus, OH
• September 27: Cincinnati, OH
• September 27: Dallas/Fort Worth, TX
• September 27: San Antonio, TX

LOOK For PureOlogy's Limited Edition Break the Silence Volume Booster collection, including PureVolume Shampoo, PureVolume Condition, and a complimentary tortoise shell-style brush with the signature ovarian cancer teal color bristle pad. The box features important information about the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer. Go to www.pureology.com and click on Salon Locator to find a salon near you that carries it.

If we start talking. . . start walking. . .we will aid in vital research, and help break the silence - and the grip - of this deadly disease.