Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Today
Encouraging Report in Fight Against Cancer; Angelman Syndrome
Aired February 09, 2006 - 11:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And now to your daily dose of health news. An encouraging report in the fight against cancer. Statistics show the number of annual cancer deaths in the U.S. has dropped for the first time in more than 70 years. In 2003, 556,902 people died of cancer. That is down from 557,271 cancer deaths the year before. The figures show it's the first annual drop in total cancer deaths since 1930. That's when experts started tracking those numbers.
Joining us from Washington to discuss the medical milestone is Dr. Otis Brawley. He's an oncologist at the National Cancer Institute, as well as the associate director of Emory University's Cancer Institute as well.
KAGAN: Dr. Brawley, good morning.
DR. OTIS BRAWLEY, ONCOLOGIST, NATL. CANCER INST.: Good morning. How are you?
KAGAN: I'm doing well. It looks like these numbers are doing as well.
Are you encouraged?
BRAWLEY: I am encourged. We have to take them in perspective. It's 370 people that did not die. That's an improvement. We're talking 560,000 people dying every year. There was a rise in the number of women who died, a decline in the number of men. This is uncertain as to how it's going to go in the future, but it's basically to be encouraged.
KAGAN: What do you attribute this to?
BRAWLEY: Well, in the late 1960s and '70s people stopped smoking. There's been a decline of number of especiall men who aren't smoking. It's an improvement in early detection, an improvment in treatment, a number of things. And I also might add, it's also unusual that this would happen right now. This is the first year in 35 years that the nation's research in cancer research has actually decreased. The NIH budget for cancer research went down for the first time in 35 years when we finally have something to celebrate in the war on cancer.
KAGAN: Now you're pointing out these numbers. We're talking very, very small amount of numbers of the change, but the direction that is really the news.
BRAWLEY: I would prefer to think of it as a leveling off, and this might be going around the corner.
KAGAN: We'll have to wait and sigh if the decline is going to continue.
BRAWLEY: That's right.
KAGAN: A lot more work to be done. Your mentioning research dollars, but actually the best work can be done on an individual basis.
BRAWLEY: That's right. That's right. First off, people should not smoke. Secondly, people should eat a healthy diet. Diet has gotten a hit in news this week, but a low-fat diet, I think, still helps in terms every heart disease, exercise, but the smoking issue, as well as complying with screening recommendations.
KAGAN: So what would you make of that study that came out early this weeks that diet doesn't really help you prevent cancer?
BRAWLEY: Well, there were a number of caveats. Those were older women. The answer, if you look at epidemiology, look at what's going on in other countries where cancer rates are lower, it may very well be a lifelong low-fat diet is better than changing to a low-fat diet change at the age of 60. That may be the answer.
KAGAN: That might be.
We wish good health to you and those out there watching.
BRAWLEY: Thank you.
KAGAN: Dr. Otis Brawley from Emory University, thank you.
And for more Daily Dose and concern this mornign over drugs used to treat attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder. The FDA says that 25 people study, 19 of them childrne, have died suddenly while taking the drugs. The medicaions include such well-known brands at Adderall, Ritalin and Concerta. The deaths occurred between 1999 and 2003. The FDA is studying whether the drugs increase the risk of heart attack or stroke, but the agency cautions there is no conclusive link.
The FDA is considering a warning for the drugs until more is known. Three million children and children take ADHD drugs here in the U.S.
And now we move on to a little known birth defect. It's call Angelman Syndrome. It's not as heavenly as the name applies, and it's often misdiagnosed as autism, perhaps even cerebal palsy.
Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta takes a look at one child's story of growing up touched by this disease.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A happy baby is usually a blessing, but for Kaitlin Brown, her smile hid a secret and laughter masked a serious problem.
EILEEN BRAUN, KAITLIN'S MOM: People would comment all the time, you have such a happy baby. You know, she's so wonderful. She's very quiet.
GUPTA: Caitlin's parents didn't think anything wrong until her mom was looking at photos.
BRAUN: When Kaitlin was about nine months old, we had been on vacation and we had a picture of her he beach, and she was really kind of a fat, chubby little baby, and we had a picture of her the next month sitting on a couch, and she just looked so thin, like there was nothing to her anymore.
GUPTA: For the next 13 months, Caitlin met with a string of specialists. She was misdiagnosed with one disorder, treated, and then finally rediagnosed with Angelman Syndrome. People with Angelman Syndrome are missing part of their 15th chromosome, resulting in mental and physical handicaps.
One of the hallmarks of Angelman is the ability to comprehend, but not speak.
DR. CHARLES WILLIAMS, ANGELMAN SYNDROME EXPERT: In fact, the absence of speech in association with a happy demeanor often with excessive laughter is one of the features that brought it to attention.
GUPTA: After the initial shock of Caitlin's diagnosis, Eileen and Tom Braun went to work to help their daughter.
TOM BRAUN, KAITLIN'S DAD: Our pediatrician had never heard of it. So, you know,as we're going along, we're educating physicians on what this is and what to expect and how to treat.
E. BRAUN: For caitlin, growing up met lots of therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy.
GUPTA: Caitlin has a rich life. Now 15 years old, she goes to high school and enjoys being a teenager. In special education classes she learned vocational and educational skills, and especially enjoys P.E., where she has mainstreamed into the general population of the school. She communicates with gestures and a modified sign language.
REBEKAH LEHMAN, KAITLIN'S SPEECH PATHOLIGST: I imagine the frustration she goes through just being herself on a regular basis and not being able to express what's going on. It is a daily challenge for her.
GUPTA: Caitlin has two younger brothers and a younger sister, and they all have their own thoughts on why they think Kaitlin special.
KIMBERLY BRAUN, KAITLIN'S SISTER: It's really fun, because not everybody has a sign-language sister. JONATHAN BRAUN, KAITLIN'S BROTHER: She can cheer you up, and she can really make you laugh. She likes to watch me play soccer, and she's like my number-one fan.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She just has a big smile on your face. When she, like,, comes aroudn, she's like giving everybody hugs and stuff.
GUPTA: In the Brown family, spreading the word about Angelman is not just a cause close to their heart, it's very close to their home. Caitlin's mom, Eileen, is the director of the Angelman Sydrome Foundation, which she runs out of the family's basis.
E. BRAUN: You ready for budget?
GUPTA: From here Eileen organizes fund-raisers and tries to be a resource for families dealing with Angelman Syndrome.
The Browns are dealing with it optimistically, cheerfully and spiritually.
E. BRAUN: Our family certainly has a very deep belief in God, and I have no doubt that when we get to heaven that Caitlin is just give going to us an earful of all the things that we've missed.
GUPTA: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: To get your Daily Dose of health news online, log on to our website. You'll find the latest medical news, a health library and information on diet and fitness. The address is CNN.com/health.
KAGAN: A big night for U2 at last night's Grammy Awards. We'll tell you who they beat and look at the rest of the winners and losers next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Let's go ahead and talk about the Grammy Awards. The winners this morning finding a spot on the mantle for their golden trophy. U2's Grammy grabbed five in all. They stole the pre-show hype from a diva, a rapper, a newcomer.
Our Brooke Anderson covered the big show.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And the Grammy...
BEYONCE KNOWLES, ENTERTAINER: And the Grammy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And the Grammy for album of the year goes to...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" -- U2! BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Irish rockers U2 won five awards last night, brick bringing their total career Grammy wins to 21. Among last night's prizes, song of the year for "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own."
BONO, ENTERTAINER: Well if you think this is going to go to our head, it's too late!
ANDERSON: But Bono and the gang were quick to acknowledge their competition.
BONO: Kanye, you're next. He's a great artist.
Mariah, you sing like an angel.
ANDERSON: Mariah Carey, rapper Kanye West and newcomer John Legend each had eight Grammy nominations, but none came close to winning that many. However, west did pick up three awards, including one for best rap album.
KANYE WEST, ENTERTAINER: I have no, no, no idea. I'd like to thank...
ANDERSON: Soulful singer Legend also won three Grammys, including best new artist.
JOHN LEGEND, ENTERTAINER: Anybody who wins best new artist is only new to the general public.
ANDERSON: Pop diva Carey ended a 16-year Grammy drought with three wins as well.
Another winning lady with a powerful voice, Kelly Clarkson. The original "American Idol" picks up two Grammys, including best female pop vocal performance.
KELLY CLARKSON, ENTERTAINER: You have no idea what this means to me.
ANDERSON: Record of the year went to edgy group Green Day for "Boulevard of Broken Dreams."
BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG, ENTERTAINER: Pop radio playing rock music is a very big deal to me.
ANDERSON: Star performances included Madonna, McCartney, Mary J. Blige.
And perhaps the most elaborate act of the evening, Jamie Foxx and Kanye West. Top talent honored the '60s funk group Sly and the Family Stone. And the show closed with a moving tribute to the musical city of New Orleans.
Brooke Anderson, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE) KAGAN: Music's biggest night, and it was a warm one in Los Angeles as well.
We'll check on weather and business news, coming up next.
Plus, he may be about two days away from another record. We're going to check in on Steve Fossett, as he tries to make his way around the world, and then some.
That's coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: And let's show you live pictures right now. We are looking at live pictures of downtown Los Angeles. This is what was once known as Library Tower. President Bush referred to it as Liberty Tower in his speech earlier today when he gave details of a plot he said was being hatched that was thwarted by American security officials. And it's now known as U.S. Bank Tower, the tallest building along the West Coast, tallest building west of the Mississippi.
All right. Other news today. Let's go ahead and -- there are new developments in a Boston-area murder case that has grabbed international attention. London police arrest the husband and father, John Entwistle, charging him in the murders of his wife and baby. Rachel and 9-month-old Lillian Entwistle were found shot to death in their suburban home in Boston on January 22nd, the day before John Entwistle flew to his native England. Last hour, prosecutors revealed that John Entwistle perhaps intended to kill himself, along with his wife and child.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARTHA COAKLEY, MIDDLESEX DISTRICT ATTORNEY: On sometime Friday morning, Neil Entwistle, with a firearm that we believe he had secured at some time before that from his father-in-law Joseph Matazarro (ph), shot Rachel Entwistle in the head and then proceeded baby Lillian, who was lying on the bed next to her mother. We believe possibly that this was intended to be a murder/suicide, but we cannot confirm that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Entwistle has been in the London area staying at his parents' home. Massachusetts investigators went to London to interview Entwistle, but he refused to answer questions. Prosecutors suggest financial problems may be the motive.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COAKLEY: Some of the background to this may be that Neil Entwistle having entered into some debt obligations in England, having moved to this country with his new wife and child, attempting to start businesses, which as many of you know, were not effective on the Internet, on eBay, and also undertaking a lease and other financial obligations may have found himself in financial difficulty. (END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: Entwistle is expected to be in court in London tomorrow, the first step in this extradition here to the U.S.
(NEWSBREAK)
(MARKET REPORT)
(WEATHER REPORT)
KAGAN: And we are getting word out of the London that Neil Entwistle, the British man who's now been arrested in the murder of American wife and baby girl will be moving up his court appearance, abnd that will happen this afternoon. I'll have more information on that just ahead, as I bring you headlines in about 20 minutes.
I'm Daryn Kagan. International news is up next. Stay tuned for YOUR WORLD TODAY.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
