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American Morning

Airline Woes; Tips on How to Spot Ovarian Cancer Early

Aired August 23, 2005 - 08:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Welcome back, everybody. Just half past of the hour on this AMERICAN MORNING. Coming up, high-fuel costs, labor disputes, just two of many problems that are facing the airline industry right now.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The industry has lost $30 billion in the last four years. Since 9/11, $30 billion. How do you keep a business running when you lose that much money?

S. O'BRIEN: You really don't.

M. O'BRIEN: You make it up in volume? I don't know.

There are serious questions if the major airlines will survive much longer. One of them may very well go. In anything resembling their current form, they may not exist. We'll talk about all about.

But first, a check of the headlines. Carol Costello here with that. Good morning.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to all of you.

Now in the news, some final resistance against Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's withdrawal plan. We've been showing you some of these images this morning. These are live pictures of evacuations from the West Bank.

Just moments ago, Israeli security forces were lifted by a crane on top of a synagogue roof in Sanur. They doused the protesters with water. There are now reports that evacuations in the Sanur settlement are now complete. And as you can see, it looks pretty darn calm there at this time. We'll keep you posted.

Iraqi leaders are trying to iron out the details of a newly submitted draft constitution. Speaking just about two hours ago, Iraq's prime minister calls the draft an important event in history, but admits more work has to be done. Voting on the draft has been delayed for three days.

Conservative Christian Pat Robertson is calling for action against Venezuela's president Hugo Chavez. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAT ROBERTSON, CHRISTIAN BROADCASTER: He has destroyed the Venezuelan economy, and he's going to make that a launching pad for communist infiltration and Muslim extremism all over the continent. You know, I don't about this doctrine of assassination, but if he thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think we really ought to go ahead and do it. It's a whole lot cheaper than starting a war, and I don't think any oil shipments will stop, but this man is a terrific danger, and this is in our sphere of influence, and we can't let this happen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Chavez has said in the past he will shut off Venezuela's oil flow if the United States does try to assassinate him.

In the world of entertainment, a sad note. A date has been set for Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt. They're not getting back together. It is over. A judge has signed off on their divorce. As you probably know and have heard many million times before, the pair got married five years ago. The divorce will become final in early October. And of course the suspicion here, Miles, is that Angelina Jolie broke up the marriage, although there is no definite proof of that.

M. O'BRIEN: Angelina Jolie, just the words, just the words.

COSTELLO: She is one sexy mamma.

M. O'BRIEN: I'm sorry. Do I have a segment to do. Oh yes, thank you, Carol. Thank you very much. But that isn't nice what happened.

Anyway, it's day number four of the Northwest Airlines mechanics strike. Reports now say that nearly half of Northwest flights operating with delays due to the strike. Nevertheless, the airline did a pretty good job planning this one. Strikes and the rising price of fuel just two of the many problems the industry has been up against in recent years. Since 9/11, the airline industry has racked you of losses of $30 billion, just since 9/11. This chart that shows how airlines have taken a dive since 9/11, 2001.

Among the hardest hit, Northwest, Continental, Delta, and American. In short, all the big ones.

Barbara Peterson is senior aviation correspondent for "Conde Nast Traveler" magazine.

Barbara, good to have you with us. This is more than fuel costs, but fuel costs certainly are the cherry on top of the sundae here, right?

BARBARA PETERSON, "CONDE NAST TRAVELER" MAGAZINE: Oh, absolutely. When that happens, when one part of your overall expenses go way up, well, in one industry you would just pass along the increase to your customers. Well, the airlines have had a really tough time doing that.

You know, there's an old saying in the business that you're only as smart as your dumbest competitor, meaning that you can't raise fares if nobody else is going to follow you. So the airlines are like lemmings when it comes to pricing, and they're really in a tough spot right now.

M. O'BRIEN: And you know, just to go back to, you know, basic economics here. It's supply and demand. There's a lot of extra seats out there. There's overcapacity, and that's a fundamental issue, isn't it?

PETERSON: Yes, it is. I think people who have been on these really packed flights lately may wonder, where is all of this excess capacity. I think that what's happened really is the rise of the low- cost, and low-fare airlines has really given the big airlines a headache.

M. O'BRIEN: Tell us what the airlines can do. Fuel costs as high as they are. I read one article that said Delta's recovery plan assumed $40 per barrel of oil, and now that it's up to $60, that puts that aside. So what else can they do? Because basically we're talking about fuel cost and labor cost are their two biggies.

PETERSON: Well, what they have to do is find a way to raise fares without really raising fares, so then you get into this nickel and diming that we're seeing. You know, there are fuel surcharges, there are pay for your food, pay for, you know, almost anything that isn't nailed down. And that's their big challenge now, is to try to extract money from passengers, also to get their costs down. You know, it's much cheaper for the airlines to have their customers look online than it is to talk to a real life reservations agent.

M. O'BRIEN: Yes, pretty soon we will charge you for a smooth landing, you know. Would you like a smooth one or a hard one? That will be a little extra.

What about in the midst of all of this, these big -- you know, Delta in such terrible trouble. You have JetBlue and you have Southwest that have a different model. Labor costs are different. The way they run the fleet is different. A lot of things are different about them, and they're making money. How?

PETERSON: Well, they keep it simple, and they keep their costs way down. They fly usually one type of aircraft. They have only one class of service. They do those quick turnarounds at the gate. They keep their planes in the air a lot longer, so they can keep their costs way down, and no major international airline can really match that.

M. O'BRIEN: Well, and that, in a sense, it's apples and oranges, isn't it? So the major international airlines, then, the big ones that we're talking about, is it sort of inevitable that one of them will go by the boards then, do you think?

PETERSON: Well, everybody has been waiting for that to happen, and it just isn't happening. You know, an airline can fly for a long time and not make money, as we've been seeing. They're protected by Chapter 11 in many cases. They don't have to pay their bills. They get, you know, debt financing from the aircraft manufacturers. I think it's very hard to kill an airline, in a sense. You know, we saw Pan Am flew for many years without making money until it finally expired.

M. O'BRIEN: Boy. It's a long slow deathmatch we're seeing unfold right now for the majors. Appreciate it. Thanks for your time.

Barbara Peterson is with "Conde Nast Traveler" magazine. She writes about aviation. Thank you -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Convicted serial bomber Eric Rudolph has offered an apology to some of his victims. Rudolph was sentenced to four life sentences on Monday. At that hearing, he apologized for the 1996 bombing of Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta. One person was killed. More than a hundred others injured in the attack.

In an exclusive interview on CNN's "ANDERSON COOPER 360," Rudolph's ex-girlfriend, who didn't want her last name used, spoke about his personality and the sentence.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CLAIRE, RODOLPH'S EX-GIRLFRIEND: He was very tenacious, funny, a lot of fun to be around. Very active. Didn't really like to sit around doing nothing too much, you know. He was very smart, very articulate, very well read. He liked to read a lot of books about Germany and Hitler and those type of things.

I think he's won. I think in his mind, he thinks he has won against the government. I mean, he's made that statement that, you know, that I'm not going to be put to death, which would be the government's wish for me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

S. O'BRIEN: Eric Rudolph did not apologize for any of the other attacks.

(WEATHER REPORT)

M. O'BRIEN: Still to come on AMERICAN MORNING, new details emerging about what Merck may have done to reduce the risks of Vioxx years before all these problems began.

S. O'BRIEN: Then is your doctor missing important early warning signs of a deadly disease? A story that no woman should miss. We've got that ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

S.O'BRIEN: Dr. Sanjay Gupta is off today, but we're talking about ovarian cancer. It's the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Currently, though, no consistent reliable screening test is available. In this morning's medical segment, Elizabeth Cohen has some tips on how to spot ovarian cancer earlier.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: When Lydia Zipp complained of stomach troubles, her doctor thought she had the flu and psychological problems.

LYDIA ZIPP, OVARIAN CANCER SURVIVOR: I left with a diagnosis of flu and allergies, and I got some antidepressants to go with it.

COHEN: For eight months, eight crucial months, doctor after doctor missed the fact that Lydia had cancer. Finally, the day before her 34th birthday, Lydia felt so sick she went to the emergency room and they found it: Stage IV ovarian cancer that had spread to her lungs making a killer cancer even more deadly. The delay meant she lost crucial time.

ZIPP: When ovarian cancer is diagnosed in its earliest stages the survival rate is 90 percent.

COHEN: But Lydia's chances of survival were only 20 percent. Ovarian cancer kills 16,000 women a year, women like Madeline Kahn, Loretta Young, Gilda Radner and Jessica Tandy.

A new study published by the American Cancer Society found that all too often, just like in Lydia Zipp's case, women complain of symptoms to their doctor but aren't diagnosed with ovarian cancer until up till three years later.

The study looked at women with the cancer and found that when women had the symptoms, doctors only ordered the right test 25 percent of the time. The symptoms of ovarian cancer include abdominal bloating, indigestion and backaches. If you have these symptoms and feel like something is just not right, the right test to ask for, a pelvic ultrasound and a blood test called CA125.

Now Lydia runs an ovarian cancer support group telling women to trust their instincts when they feel sick.

ZIPP: I know that women are very intuitive and know a lot about their bodies. And if they feel like they are not getting the information that they need from their doctor, then we suggest that they get a second opinion or third opinion.

COHEN: Lydia was one of the lucky ones. She's been in remission for three years, enough time to spread the word about getting the right diagnosis at the right time.

ZIPP: I feel truly blessed.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

S. O'BRIEN: That was Elizabeth Cohen reporting. For more information about ovarian cancer, you can go to the American Cancer Society at Cancer.org. Women with symptoms, of course, should obviously see their doctors right away.

Miles?

M. O'BRIEN: Still to come, we're minding your business. New evidence that Merck may have tried to fix Vioxx problems earlier than everyone thought. That is ahead on AMERICAN MORNING. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

M. O'BRIEN: So did Merck know about Vioxx's risks even before the drug was on the market? That's a story we're looking at this morning as we mind your business. Susan Lisovicz in for Andy Serwer this morning.

Susan, I've been talking to you for years from Atlanta. And here you are in person.

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In the flesh. It's nice to see you. Welcome to New York, Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: It's good to be here. Good to see you up close and personal. Let's talk about Merck and what they might have known.

LISOVICZ: Well, the FDA approved Vioxx in 1999. We know about the problems that happened afterwards, the studies that showed that if you took Vioxx, your risk of a heart attack skyrocketed.

The AP is reporting that a year earlier before it ever went on the market, that Merck sought patent protection for a way to reduce cardiovascular problems associated with these Cox-2 inhibitors which includes Vioxx.

Merck says, listen, we weren't trying to hide anything, we were just trying to enhance this class of drugs. But, obviously, right about now, if you're Merck, you really need a big pain killer. The "Boston Globe" is reporting that there may be 100,000 lawsuits.

M. O'BRIEN: Oh, my god.

LISOVICZ: We've been reporting several thousand.

So it's a terrible time for Merck.

M. O'BRIEN: The fact that this is coming to light after all this does put them in a tough position. It's not as if they're out there saying this isn't a risk issue prior, right?

LISOVICZ: Well, and of course, we've already known that, say, as early as 2000, that there were studies again that showed this heightened chance of a heart attack. And it was only pulled last year, 2004.

So, yes, Merck has a lot of explaining to do. And a lot of the explaining will, unfortunately, be done in the court.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

M. O'BRIEN: Susan Lisovicz, we're working.

LISOVICZ: Exactly.

M. O'BRIEN: Thank you very much.

Soledad?

S. O'BRIEN: Well, you know show dogs are primped and fussed over in their attempt to win "best in show" but this is one dog who is not looking to be the most cuddly canine. In fact, he's probably the undisputed champion at being the exact opposite. CNN's Jeanne Moos has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Good doggie. Good and ugly.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, ahh!

MOOS (on camera): Is it the ugliest dog you've ever seen?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: By far.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, disgusting. Looks like they dug him up.

MOOS: He is the three-time undefeated winner of the world's ugliest dog contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in California.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: See? That's the hand that feeds you.

MOOS: The hand that feeds him belongs to Susie Lockheed, who's used to rude questions.

SUSIE LOCKHEED, SAM'S OWNER: They often ask me if he's a burn victim.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, what happened?

MOOS: Sam is just an accident of breeding. A Chinese crested hairless -- here's what a normal one looks like -- gone astray.

LOCKHEED: I think one of Sam's most attractive features is his hernia lump on his rump. Dangling flesh like a turkey gullet.

MOOS: With this neck, it's no stretch to conjure up ET.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, ET's cuter.

MOOS: Susie calls his choppers Austin Powers teeth. The few hairs Sam has can be rustled by his own breath.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Foulest, most demon-looking dog I've ever seen, and he's beautiful in every way.

MOOS: Well, no wonder he likes Sam. They share a patch of hair.

(on camera): Would you pet this dog?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, I and I wouldn't let him share my apartment for the world.

MOOS (voice-over): Susie took Sam in five years ago when he was considered unadoptable. He's now 14 years old.

LOCKHEED: Yeah, he has quite a personality. He can get a little cranky.

MOOS: Sam won the ugliest dog contest back in June, but he became a star when the "Los Angeles Times" published his mug. Now he's got several Web sites. He's inspired other contests to find even uglier dogs. But even a six-legged pooch can't compete with Sam.

At Susie's Web site, samugliestdog.com, you can buy t-shirts and refrigerator magnets. It may keep you from eating.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would pet him, I would hold him, I would feed him, I would breed him.

MOOS (on camera): Breed him?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, why not?

MOOS: That's going too far.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Somebody's got to want an ugly dog.

MOOS (voice-over): Alas, Sam is neutered. As one cyber wit put it, "We do not want another Son of Sam."

LOCKHEED: Sometimes, dogs seem to not quite know if he's canine or not. I mean, they have to have a good sniff, and even then they're -- they're a little afraid of Sam. Be very afraid!

MOOS: Did we mention Sam is blind? This woman was ready to take him home.

(on camera): With his skin like this?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah, why not?

MOOS: I mean, he has these little bumps on it?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He looks like half the people in New York before they have surgery.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a frightening little creature. Look at its skin. I mean -- is this really a dog?

MOOS: Yeah.

(voice-over): No wonder Sam's on the Internet myth debunking site Snopes, status true. The show "Insider" gave Sam a makeover.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A moisturizing bath and, of course, a bow. So, did it work? Check out the before and after.

MOOS: Before or after...

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Ahhh! MOOS: ... Sam's enough to make a kid turn tail and run.

(on camera): You ought to hear the noise he makes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, he's no Billie Holiday.

MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

S. O'BRIEN: Sam's owner plans to hire an agent. Sam's owner plans to hire an agent because Sam probably has a future, she believes, in commercials and movies.

M. O'BRIEN: Sam could be a body double for? Ready? Smeagol, right? Is that Smeagol?

S. O'BRIEN: From "The Lords of the Ring."

M. O'BRIEN: He has two names. Smeagol, and what's the other one? Gollum, Smeagol. Either way. Because he's got two. You know. he's possessed.

S. O'BRIEN: Ugly and mean, that dog. And that bark. Wow. All God's creatures.

M. O'BRIEN: If you looked like that, you'd be mean, too, I suppose.

Still to come on the program, surprising new details on the life of rock 'n' roll legend Jimi Hendrix. Did he really pretend to be gay to get out of the Army? The author of a revealing new biography will join us live. We'll talk about that and more ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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