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CSI Miami's Eva Larue Joins the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) to Break the Silence on Leading Women's Cancer Killer

Posted on: Friday, 1 September 2006, 09:00 CDT

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) today announced the premiere of its national television and radio public service announcement (PSA) to educate women about the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer, the number one killer among women's reproductive cancers. In addition, NOCC continues to "break the silence" through local educational events, a new partnership with hair care company, PureOlogy Serious Colour Care, and a window art display at New York's Rockefeller Center.

Eva LaRue, star of the hit television series CSI Miami and formerly of All My Children, is featured in the PSA to encourage women to start talking about ovarian cancer with their families, friends and doctors. Ms. LaRue lost both her grandmother and great-grandmother to ovarian cancer, which puts her at greater risk of the disease. The PSA will begin airing in September, which is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, a designation that NOCC helped initiate in 1998.

"Ovarian cancer is taking a devastating toll on thousands of women each year and too many are diagnosed too late. We need to start talking about ovarian cancer now in order to change that trend," said LaRue. "I am honored to help NOCC continue its public education efforts to 'break the silence' in order to improve the odds for women with this disease today and in the future."

Earlier this year NOCC launched "Break the Silence," a national education program to facilitate greater awareness and dialogue about ovarian cancer in response to alarming results from their national survey that showed only 15 percent of women are familiar with the signs of the disease, and 82 percent have never talked to their doctors about the symptoms and risk factors. Yet, more than 20,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year, and more than 15,000 will die from the disease.

If caught in the early stages, the five-year survival rate for ovarian cancer is 90 percent, but 75 percent of women are still diagnosed in the advanced stages when the prognosis is poor.

"Break the Silence" has reached nearly 10 million people to date with educational messages and tools for starting a dialogue about this frightening disease. In September more than 80 NOCC divisions around the country will continue spreading the word by conducting local "Break the Silence" events for women in their communities.

"The statistics are alarming and NOCC is responding with education and awareness-building programs. Because the symptoms of ovarian cancer are subtle and there is no standard screening tool, a woman's best first-line defense is her own awareness of the symptoms," said Julene Fabrizio, national President of NOCC and an ovarian cancer survivor. "We are so fortunate to have in Eva a woman who is both passionate about the cause and can effectively connect with viewers of all ages on this important topic. With Eva's participation in the PSA campaign, we can continue to raise the profile of a disease that deserves greater public attention."

"Through the PSA and our national education program, 'Break the Silence,' as well as other equally important initiatives, we are fulfilling NOCC's mission to ensure that as many women as possible have the information they need to protect themselves and their loved ones," said Jane Langridge, chief executive officer of NOCC.

Ovarian Cancer Art Now Showing at Rockefeller Center

In September the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition will be featured in New York City's Rockefeller Center Plaza window display, imparting messages about ovarian cancer signs, symptoms, and risk factors to the more than 250,000 passersby each day. A sculpture entitled "Echo" created by artist John Magnan in honor of his late wife, Mary, whose seven-year battle with ovarian cancer ended this past February serves as the centerpiece of this traffic-stopping display. "Echo" is the final sculpture of "Body Image, Body Essence," a traveling art exhibit created by Magnan and sponsored by NOCC to raise awareness and pay tribute to all the courageous women who are battling or have lost their lives to ovarian cancer.

Corporate Partnership Extends NOCC's Education and Awareness Programs

Also in honor of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, NOCC is partnering with PureOlogy Serious Colour Care, a company that has made ovarian cancer education part of its mission and one of the few hair care companies to offer an entire carcinogen-free product line.

Through the partnership, NOCC will provide educational information to 10,000 PureOlogy salons nationwide during the months of September and October. PureOlogy also will donate to NOCC a percentage of proceeds from sales of their SuperStraight trio of products during these same months.

PureOlogy originally was founded when a close friend of the company's founder and chief executive officer was battling ovarian cancer. She voiced her need for carcinogen-free hair care products that she could use as she underwent treatment and this inspired the creation of the company. PureOlogy continues to make it its mission to educate and raise awareness of this often hard-to-detect disease that affects so many women.

Ovarian Cancer Symptoms and Risk Factors

The symptoms of ovarian cancer are subtle and hard to pinpoint because they often mimic more prevalent digestive and gastrointestinal disorders. Common symptoms include persistent swelling, bloating, pressure or pain in the abdomen, gastrointestinal upset and/or frequent urination in the absence of an infection. Typically, two or more symptoms occur simultaneously and increase in severity over time.

"Women experiencing at least two to three common ovarian cancer symptoms clustered together that persist for two or more weeks should visit a gynecologist and ask for a rectovaginal exam, transvaginal ultrasound and CA-125 blood test," said Judith Wolf, gynecologic oncologist at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX and chair of the NOCC Medical Advisory Board. "Because a family history of breast, colon and/or ovarian cancer increases the risk of the disease, women should monitor for symptoms and consider visiting a gynecologic oncologist for regular screenings."

About NOCC

Since its inception in 1995, the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) has been committed to raising awareness of ovarian cancer in communities across the country through education and support. As the first and only national ovarian cancer organization with a network of more than 80 Divisions throughout the United States, NOCC has established itself as the leading advocate for patients and families struggling with ovarian cancer. Committed volunteers work together to advance NOCC's mission through a toll-free Help Line, comprehensive web site, peer support, professional education, the promotion of research, publications and Break the Silence, a national education program to facilitate greater awareness and dialogue about ovarian cancer. For more information about the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, visit http://www.ovarian.org/ or call 1-888-OVARIAN.

National Ovarian Cancer Coalition

CONTACT: Tracy Naden of WeissComm Partners, +1-212-301-7206, ortnaden@weisscommpartners.com, for the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition

Web site: http://www.ovarian.org/

Source: PRNewswire

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