dr. nancy snyderman is back again tonight with some answers. viewers, dr. nancy snyderman is back tonight with some answers. o is going to the dog park together. sometimes my copd makes it hard to breathe. so my doctor prescribed symbicort. it helps significantly improve my lung function starting within five minutes. symbicort doesn't replace a rescue inhaler for sudden symptoms. with symbicort, today i'm breathing better. come on, boy! [ female announcer ] symbicort is for copd, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. it should not be taken more than twice a day. symbicort contains formoterol. medicines like formoterol increase the risk of death from asthma problems. symbicort may increase your risk of lung infections, osteoporosis, and some eye problems. tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure before taking it. [ man ] now symbicort significantly improves my lung function, starting within 5 minutes. and that makes a difference in my breathing. today, i'm hanging out with my best friend. talk to your doctor about symbicort.

dr. nancy snyderman starting us off with her report from liberia. and we spoke with her by phone a short time ago. i asked nancy how everyone in our traveling team is holding up there tonight. >> reporter: hello, brian. the team's doing well. obviously we're self-monitoring and keeping our eyes on each other. this is a team i have traveled with extensively to foreign countries before. so i think that teamwork comes into play when everyone is stressed and a tenuous situation. sadly this epidemic shows no sign of slowing down. that's sort of adding to the social disintegration in parts of liberia. but we are under 21-day quarantine with a firm belief we'll come out the other end okay. and we believe that our co-worker is also going to be fine. and we just want the world's eyes remained focused on liberia. and we will be back to continue to cover this story. brian. >> nancy, thanks. dr. nancy snyderman updating us by phone a short time ago. such an urgent situation along the west coast of africa. much of the focus on ebola here in this country remains o

dr. nancy snyderman takes us inside the hot zone. >>> under fire. the secret service director grilled in front of congress over stunning lapses in white house security. but what she revealed may only further damage confidence in her agency. >>> paper or plastic. a big move to retire that question forever. plus are supermarkets near you next in line? >>> and our unscripted conversation with ben affleck on his latest film role and his role at home as husband, father and devoted fan of all boston sports teams. "nightly news" begins now. >> announcer: from nbc news world headquarters in new york, this is "nbc nightly news" with brian williams. >>> good evening. and as we come on the air tonight, we're covering a major development in the ebola outbreak. until now, until just a short time ago, in fact, americans could at least take comfort in the knowledge that all the thousands of cases of this deadly virus were discovered outside of our borders, but a late announcement tonight from the cdc just changed that. the first case has been confirmed here in the

dr. nancy snyderman investigates a controversy. >> when is the leadership of the marine corps going to stand up and say we made a mistake? >>> also tonight, kate snow goes inside the fight to save the pandas including some of the very youngest. >> you are too cute. look at you. >> their ircystability is beyond dispute, so what is it about the effort to protect them that makes this wild life expert so upset. >> you said once i would happily eat the last panda on earth if you could spend the money on worth while. in all seriousness, why did you say that? >> "rock center" gets under way. good evening. welcome to "rock center." the first glimpse americans ever got of oscar pistorius was on this broadcast in the run-up to the summer olympic games in london. we aired what became the defining profile of him reported by mary carrillo of nbc sports who traveled to south africa and got to know this unusual olympic athlete. well, fast forward to this past week. his name and image are everywhere. his beautiful girlfriend is dead and now his future turns on whether his version of his story is believed. t

dr. nancy snyderman. thank you. as always. >> you bet. >> we are back in a moment with an emergency on a train platform, no time to think, and the people who stood there and did the right thing. think, and the people who stood there and did the right thing. a woman who loves to share her passions. grandma! mary has atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat not caused by a heart valve problem. that puts her at a greater risk of stroke. rome? sure! before xarelto®, mary took warfarin, which required monthly trips to get her blood tested. but that's history. back to the museum? not this time! now that her doctor switched her to once-a-day xarelto®, mary can leave those monthly trips behind. domestic flight? not today! like warfarin, xarelto® is proven effective to reduce afib-related stroke risk. but xarelto® is the first and only once-a-day prescription blood thinner for patients with afib not caused by a heart valve problem that doesn't require regular blood monitoring. so mary is free of that monitoring routine. f

dr. nancy snyderman, nbc news, port-au-prince, haiti. >>> a big storm named richard turn into a tenth hurricane of the season today. it is expected to hit belize this evening. hundreds have been evacuated.

dr. nancy snyderman who has made her way to lebanon, dr. nancy snyderman thank you. our series of reports starts tomorrow morning on "today" and across all the broadcasts and platforms of nbc news. >>> in this country it has been 15 months since a gunman walked into sandy hook elementary school in newtown, connecticut and started to shoot in classrooms that were full of 6 and 7-year-olds before killing himself. tonight for the first time we are getting new insights into adam lanza from his father, peter, who spoke with journalist and author, arthur solomon, for an article. we get our report from national correspondent kate snow. >> reporter: adam lanza killed 26 children, six staff, himself and his mother. how does peter lanza live with that? >> it is incredibly difficult. he is full of sadness, he only wishes he could go back in time and fix it or change it. peter lanza sought out arthur solomon after reading his book. peter lanza sought out him after the crimes. does he feel like he is to blame? >> he doesn't feel like he is to blame. he feels like even with all th

dr. nancy snyderman. >> 911. >> hi. >> reporter: the voice of a desperate mother in fishers indiana. >> on technology today. he's just crying and really upset. >> reporter: her 17-year-old son chris turned violent when she took away his computer. so brooke mcsweeney called the police. >> reporter: he punched a hole in this wall? brooke says her son is an addict hooked not on drugs or alcohol but internet games. how did you decide it is an addiction and not just a bad habit or something that

dr. nancy snyderman, with an investigation on one of the worst outbreaks on our planet. thousands are dead because of it. the question is, could the u.n. itself be to blame? >>> later on, the revelation from tom hanks that made national headlines within minutes. hanks, what made headlines within minutes. every year american students earn degrees in math and science. but only three in ten of them are women. to have enough graduates to fill 21st century jobs... ...we'll have to solve this gender divide. let's inspire more young women to pursue math and science. let's light the way for a new generation. join exxonmobil in advancing math and science education. let's solve this. afghanistan in 2009. on the u.s.s. saratoga in 1982. [ male announcer ] once it's earned, usaa auto insurance is often handed down from generation to generation because it offers a superior level of protection and because usaa's commitment to serve current and former military members and their families is without equal. begin your legacy. get an auto insurance quote. usaa. we know what it means to ser

dr. nancy snyderman, nbc news, new york. >>> a reminder, all our women's health reports can be found on oursite, nightly.msnbc.com. if you have questions for dr. nancy snyderman, you can submit them there. she'll answer as many as she can get to as the week goes on. >>> when our broadcast goes on tonight, just when we are getting used to the idea of hd-tv, would you believe 3-d tv? used to the idea of hd-tv, would you believe 3-d tv? . i watched what i ate. i worked out. personally, i thought i was invincible. . once it happened, i realized it's a different story. i'm on an aspirin regimen now because i never want to feel that helplessness again. [ male announcer ] aspirin is not appropriate for everyone. so be sure to talk to your doctor before you begin an aspirin regimen. i was the guy who was doing everything right. i was wrong. talk to your doctor, and take care of what you have to take care of. [ male announcer ] learn more about protecting your heart at iamproheart.com. [ male announcer ] learn more about protecting your heart still haven't tried activia? listen to this story. i love

dr. nancy snyderman about a boy who badly needed help there. >>> we switch back at home tonight. president obama's push to focus on jobs, the economy and riled-up anger over the big banks. the labor department said today unemployment got worse in 43 out of 50 states in december. one reason why voters are so angry at washington. the president took his response on the road today and our chief white house correspondent chuck todd is with us tonight for more on this. chuck, good evening. >> reporter: good evening, brian. while still reeling from one of the more politically-humbling weeks on the job, president obama took this new retooled populous message on the road to ohio. >> it's just nice being out of washington. >> reporter: president obama traveled to the hard-hit community in ohio, trying to send the message to americans that he feels their pain. >> the worst of this economic storm has passed, but families like yours and communities like this one are still reeling. >> reporter: a fiery obama used the word fight or fighting more than a dozen times. >> i will not stop fighting f

dr. nancy snyderman. >> reporter: nicole armstrong credits her older sister, katrina, an award-winning special olympian, with saving her life. >> because of everything my sister had gone through, had she not had gotten sick it could have been me. >> reporter: katrina died two years ago at the age of 32, from breast cancer. she has a gene mutation associated with breast cancer and ovarian cancer. it was a wake-up call for the rest of the family to have the genetic testing. >> we walked in the room, and just -- the look on the counselor's face said that owe >> reporter: their grandmother owe it was going to be positive. also died of breast cancer. and in their case, their gene mutation runs on their dad's side of the family. nicole underwent a double mastectomy to reduce her risk of breast cancer. but now at 28 years of age, she has another big decision to make. >> having my ovaries removed is a big fear of mine. >> reporter: they suggest that women with the brc 1 mutation can reduce their risk of breast cancer by 80% and their risk of death by 70% if they have their ovaries and tubes removed by

dr. nancy snyderman in man rovia and is quarantined. he'll return for treatment this weekend. >> the fear is he becomes sicker before we have a chance to transport him. and that's the big concern we have now. >> reporter: the same medevac transport will also bring dr. schneiderman and three other nbc staffers back to the states where they'll be in isolation for the next 21 days. >> the rest of my team very healthy. bev within extraordinarily vigilant. >> reporter: to this point, no other member of the team has shown any symptoms of the virus. jay gray, nbc news, dallas. >>> right now, doctors across the country are on high alert for possible ebola cases. one factor, whether patients have traveled within the past 21 days to west africa. and if they do find a suspended case, the centers for disease control says hospitals should isolate patients and notify local and state health departments. ebola symptoms include fever higher than 101.5. vomiting, diarrhea, stomach and muscle pain. we have a lot more information about the ebola virus for

dr. nancy snyderman. >> i'm doreen gents ler. >> and i'm jim vance. the photograph name has not be released yet. just learned about this a co. work with dr. sniterman's sday te in west africa. just a day later, he started exci sympt and quane positive test result came ba today. the rest of the nbc n symptoms, wi be flown back for obse >> the news tonight o positive eba in africa, is a graphic exe of how desperate teams there and in our country now as well. and writer was wog with nbc news chief medil chi and correspon dr. nancy snyderman when he te positive r ebola. >> this is a very experienc pho journalist who we hired to augmt our team on the field in monr. snyderman has been in west afri nbc ems covering the ebola outb. else on the team has shn sig of contracti the de virus. >> we have really worked hard to mini our risk. i mean, obviously, zero risk mes never coming to l mini means crossing over into this country. >> the freelance photograpr is for treatment. back on a ed pre jet and place themselves in isolation for the next 21 days. the rest of

dr. nancy snyderman here with us. first of all, how is jordan doing up to now? all right. the bone marrow transplant seems to have taken and right now she's staying put in new york city. we have posted new pictures and an update on the website so people can check in on her. >> i also presume we're going to get people who say i want to help. i know you're a doctor, not a lawyer. and it was admirable to watch your control sitting across from mr. boo. where do you think this goes? >> i'm not putting my doctor hat on. i think this was a well meaning law, but the technology has now improved such that if you can get bone marrow stem cells out of blood by doing a blood stick, why not help people and compensate them for a day's work or with housing vouchers. the reality is the no-show rate of over 50% is astonishing. and for people of mixed race, a bone marrow match is even tougher. so we have to increase the pool, but we have to make sure that people understand there is a real incentive to show up. i'm not so worried about paying people and compensating them. i think t

dr. nancy snyderman is nbc's chief medical editor.of us were inconvenienced d by power outages, but some people are in it really bad straits and it's starting to take a real emotional aal toll. >> you can see it literally in people's eyes, the exhaustion and fright. i've talked to more parents who said on monday and tuesday they, themselves, were so scared but they felt they had to be stronger because the fright in their children's faces was extraordinary. and now from the inconvenience of no power, no water, to really being cold and the disruption for a lot of kids still no school and then what is monday going to bring? >> and also, a lot of folks have never had to ask for help and this is a time where you need help. but it's difficult. >> it is. you and i have lived in california. so we understand what preparedness is. we think like earthquake people. and i would have to say that on the east coast, people don't necessarily have that same preparedness aspect. so even though there are warnings, people find themselves caught off guard

dr. nancy snyderman, as always.ancy, for coming by. >>> on wall street, investors came back from a long weekend in the mood to buy. the dow was up 170 points. its best one-day gain in three months of trading. when "nightly news" continues, ightlybout a downhill event. news" continues, talk about a downhill event. you can earn double extra bucks with your extracare card? for every two prescriptions purchased, you get two extra bucks. and you normally get 2% back, but now you can earn 4% back on all cvs brand items. what a treat! sign up for double bucks today. only at cvs/pharmacy. but we've got the ammunition she needs: omnaris. (troops) omnaris! to the nose. (general) omnaris works differently than many other allergy medications. omnaris fights nasal allergy symptoms that occur from allergic inflammation... relieve those symptoms with omnaris. side effects may include headache, nosebleed and sore throat. her nose is at ease. we have lift off. (general) remember omnaris! ask your doctor. in the battle against nasal

dr. nancy snyderman in new york. ncy held a live web chat earlier today, where she answered a lot of additional questions submitted by our viewers. you can see that online conversation on nightly.msnbc.com. >>> when we come back, our making a difference report. >>> when we come back, our making a difference report. ♪ (announcer) right now, all over the country, discover customers are getting five percent cashback bonus on travel. it pays to get more, it pays to discover. i felt this deep lingering pain that was a complete mystery to me. my doctor diagnosed it as fibromyalgia muscle pain and then he recommended lyrica. fibromyalgia is thought to be the result of over-active nerves that cause chronic, widespread pain. lyrica is fda-approved to help relieve the unique pain of fibromyalgia. and with less pain, i can do more during my day. how sweet is that? lyrica is not for everyone. tell you doctor about any serious allergic reaction that causes swelling or affects breathing or skin, or changes eyesight including blurry

dr. nancy snyderman. >> she has a spinal cord injury. >> reporter: just six days after haiti's earthquakee met dr. julie manley triaging patients. she had come to port-au-prince alone and on her opal dime. by chance wandered into a parking lot. it was sacre coeur's recovery room. soon found herself working 20-hour days and making gut-wrenching decisions. >> she is going to need an amputation. >> reporter: manley is an e.r. doctor back in north carolina, but she couldn't believe the scope of this disaster. >> i was just overwhelmed by the scale of the destruction. i really don't have the words to describe it. >> reporter: she soon learned the hospital was in danger, too. considered the best in haiti with its state-of-the-art equipment, the quake had destroyed 3/4 of the hospital. the only remaining operating room had four amputations going on at once. by opening its doors to all quake victims, this private hospital has run out of money. it hasn't paid its own staff. things are a lot calmer here, but at sacre coeur the parking lot is acting as a patient ward. the problem is now that without

dr. nancy snyderman. >> reporter: decades of running, biking and competitive sports took their toll on saras body. >> the pain was grueling, grinding, constant. i could not get my knee in a position of comfort. >> reporter: now at age 54, she's one of about four and a half million americans walking around with an artificial knee. >> people at work said to me, you know, gosh, you know, we enjoy working with you but we've never seen you smile so much. they didn't know me out of pain. >> reporter: loman is part of a growing trend, people opting for knee replacement surgery earlier in life. >> there were times that this procedure was only done for people who were older than 65 years of age. >> reporter: not anymore. the number of baby boomers getting total knee replacements tripled in a ten-year period. and even though there can be complications, nearly one in 20 americans over 50 is walking around with a new knee. what's behind the increased demand? well, experts point to a few factors. america's obesity epidemic, aging athletes not taking care of their aching joints, genetics, and the fact th

dr. nancy snyderman for news 4. >> for answers to your health questions watch news 4 week days at 3:00 p.m., dr. nancy snyderman joins us every day on the daily connection. >> still ahead, a "news4 midday," more good news about the jobs market. coming up a look at how markets are reacting to that news. >> plus, strategic foreclosures. why people are making the choice to walk away. stay with us. >>> there is a new face of the foreclosure crisis that is growing called strategic foreclosures and many call it unethical. it's happening in high foreclosure areas such as california. here's how it occurs. a homeowner winds up owing in cases hundreds of thousands more than his or her home is worth. so, that person goes out and buy as less expensive home, and let's the other get foreclosed on even though the practice is legal, most agents if they find out that the homeowner is trying to do this will try to put a stop to it. >> personally, it makes me sad and makes me angry. >> if they contact us, sorry, we can't help you. we will not be part of the fraud. >> many people have gotten away with this. t

dr. nancy snyderman has the story. >> reporter: dr. bardman of rockefeller university received an unexpected phone call. >> i thought it was probably one of my friends playing a practical joke. >> reporter: she had been chosen to receive a $3 million cash prize for her research in brain development. which will hopefully provide breakthroughs in disorders like autism and schizophrenia. >> this is more like winning the lottery. >> reporter: ten other scientists worldwide joined bardman in receiving the award. the first of its kind. including dr. lewis cantally of cornell medical college, being recognized for cancer and diabetes research. >> i was glad i was sitting down, i almost fell. >> reporter: it's not just the money that surprised these scientists. the people behind it did too. tech billionaires, including russian entrepreneur yuri milliner, facebook cofounder mark zuckerberg, and others formed a nonprofit called breakthrough prize in life sciences. instead of recognizing scientists who are already known for their accomplishments,

dr. nancy snyderman. i can hear parents now saying when can i get it? >> it's not yet fda approved. think what they're going to do is figure out how high they can raise the protein amount on these skin patches, tweak it and i think this is going to be fast tracked most likely by the fda precisely because of what you said as a parent. >> dr. nancy snyderman being thank you so much. >> you bet. >> whether we come back and the winner is al roker giving a preview to have night's oscars. you pay your auto insurance premium every month on the dot. you're like the poster child for paying on time. and then one day you tap the bumper of a station wagon. no big deal... until your insurance company jacks up your rates. you freak out. what good is having insurance if you get punished for using it? hey insurance companies, news flash. nobody's perfect. for drivers with accident forgiveness, liberty mutual won't raise your rates due to your first accident. see car insurance in a whole new light. liberty mutual insurance. bladder is changing, it doesn't mean you have to. with tena, let yourself go

dr. nancy snyderman. >> 50 years ago, a revolution, a sexual revolution, took place in homes and bedroomsrica, with the introduction of the first birth control pill. but even if you took it or knew someone who did, chances are you just didn't talk about it. >> i think this was seen as a really radical notion. it completely transformed women's lives, their ability to go back to school, finish college. >> reporter: today an estimated 12 million american women use the pill and about 80% will use it at some point in their reproductive lives. just because it's readily available doesn't mean it's always easy to get. >> i think there is a lot of taboo still around birth control. in the last ten years there have been campaigns to make sure pharmacists dispense birth control to any woman who wants it and has a prescription. >> reporter: that has inspired drug companies to fast track efforts to make birth control as accessible to women as it is easy to use. >> the pill was a great discovery, but we have new methods of delivering contraceptives so they can stay in the body for a longer period of tim

dr. nancy snyderman has more tonight. >> reporter: think long-term dieting will keep you thin?>> eat less. eat more. >> reporter: or that sex can hil you lose weight. >> i've learned sex can burn calories. >> reporter: and childhood ob e obesi obesity. >> reporter: working to separate fact from fiction when it comes to weight-loss. analyzing studies to highlight what they call myths, presumptions and facts about obesity which affects more than one-third of americans. >> look at a number of beliefs we found either in some cases, they were not true, according to the evidence available, and in other cases were neither known to the true nor known to the untrue, but there just wasn't enough evidence available. >> reporter: one of the seven myths that sex can burn hundreds of calories a at time. researchers found it's closer to 21 calories. >> don't tell her that. >> reporter: another, that big weight-loss goals set you up for failure. turns out if you set your mind to losing weight, you can. some myths are controversial. the study says phys-ed won't stop childhood obesity and loonsi

dr. nancy snyderman, nbc news, haiti. >> that is our monday night broadcast. for being here with us. we have an important late note here tonight. tonight on "rock center" bob costas has the first response by jerry sandusky regarding the charges against him in the penn state case. that's "rock center" tonight. i'm brian williams. we'll see you later this evening. hope to see you right back here tomorrow evening. hope to see you right back here tomorrow evening. good night. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com [ zapping ]

dr. nancy snyderman is with us tonight. nancy, i'd like to get you on the record with a reality check on the known risks of this vaccine. >> reporter: the reality checks come from very august bodies, the american academy of pediatrics, the american academy of family physicians, and the cdc all weighed in today, disagreeing with michele bachmann's views, saying over 35 million doses of the hpv vaccine have been given with a tremendously good safety record. the reason that's important to know, over 6 million young men and women will be infected with the hpv virus this year. and over 4,000 women will die of cervical cancer. it's important to remember that this is an anti-cancer vaccine. and the reason it's given to an 11-year-old and 12-year-old, that's when the human body produces the best immune response that will protect kids later when they become sexually active. you want this on board. and in fact it has been proven so successful there is now a call to vaccinate young boys too. from a safety track record, from an efficac

dr. nancy snyderman kicks off our new series of reports called "personal best." >> reporter: from skatinginks to ski slopes and even at the gym, there is a ripple effect from the vancouver games. millions of americans tuned in to see some of the world's most elite athletes perform incredible feats of athleticism. and those stunning images are having an impact. a study conducted by knowledge networks on behalf of nbc universal, found that 40% of tv viewers say watching the olympics has inspired them to exercise more often. u.s. silver medallist meryl davis welcomes the chance to have an impact on her fellow americans. >> inspiring people to partake in some kind of physical activity or exercise is amazing. just being active makes you a happier person. >> reporter: exercise makes muscles stronger, reduces stress, allows your lungs to pump more oxygen through your body, and can add years to your life. when it comes to kids, the olympics is a great way to encourage children to adopt healthy behaviors, such as exercising and eating right. at fort dupont ice rink in washington, d.c., calls for s

dr. nancy snyderman, nbc news, new york. >>> naomi sims has died. at the height of her career in the 1970s, she was once referred to as the first black supermodel. the designer halston credited her with breaking down social barriers. she overcame a tough childhood to use her great beauty on magazine covers and tv ads. she was later a cosmetics executive. naomi sims died of cancer. she was 61 years old. >>> when our broadcast continues in just a moment, the worry about going back to school this witarh swine flu. worry about going back to school this year with swine flu. while i was building my life, myigh cholesterol was contributing to plaque buildup in my arteries. that's why my doctor prescribed crestor. she saidlaque buildup in arteries is a real reason to lower cholesterol. and that along with diet, crestor does more than lower bad cholesterol, it raises good. crestor is also proven to slow the buildup of plaque in arteries. crestor isn't for everyone, like people with liver disease, or women who are nursing, pregnant, or may become pregnant. si

dr. nancy snyderman is here with details. dr. snyderman?> reporter: in a unanimous vote a panel of experts deemed ellaone safe and effective for preventing pregnancy after a woman has unprotected sex. there is a similar type called plan b that's available in the united states but it must be taken within three days after sex. this new contraceptive lengthens that window and reduces the chance of pregnancy for up to five days after sex. the pill is currently approved and sold in 22 countries and it is known as ellaone. while the fda is not required to take the advice, as you said, of the advisory panel, it usually does so. if it is expected to be approved and it does come to the united states it will be marketed and sold under the name ella. >> and so what happens next, nancy? >> reporter: now the politicking begins. this is a close chemical cousin to the morning after pill ru-486. some argue it is an abortion pill. others say not enough testing has been done. if you look at the track record in europe it looks pretty good. so i think the argu

dr. nancy snyderman is there. she has a late report from liberia's capital of monrovia tonight. >> reporter: good evening, brian. nbc news today contacted the family member of the liberian man now hospitalized in texas. they confirm when he boarded his plane on september 19th he was well. and that's significant, because anyone leaving this country has his or her temperature taken. which means he was not symptomatic. and people on the flight from monrovia to brussels are not at risk from getting this disease. interestingly it's easier to catch influenza than it is ebola. you have to come in to direct contact with bodily fluids. that means vomit, diarrhea, blood, urine or sweat. we have expected there would be a case of ebola in the united states at some point because it is not controlled in liberia. this is a sobering reminder that this virus will continue to skip around the world if we don't contain it here on these shores. brian. >> dr. nancy snyderman in liberia for us tonight. thanks. and as scary as ebola is,

dr. nancy snyderman introduces us to a victim who has climbed back to reclaim her life. >>> and our gueste in the studio tonight, tina fey. first off, we're going to see if her forearms really are that big in person. and we're going to talk about the intentional confusion between the names of our two shows. >>> most americans would agree, the government has a lot to learn from that physician's oath to do no harm. but it's tougher to explain this. doctors and government officials conspireing on a project so horrible, it is hard to believe it happened in our country and not that long ago. we have a story here tonight about cruelty in the name of science and about the government in effect trying to play god. but it's also about the strength and resilience of the human spirit and about a remarkable woman named elaine riddick. dr. nancy snyderman takes us tonight to north carolina to investigate a state of shame. >> reporter: the serene charm of winfall, north carolina. a sleepy town where the river empties into the sound. buried in the stillness of this place it seems time has forgotten a sec

dr. nancy snyderman. >> reporter: orthopedic surgeon dr.re than fix bones for a living. for years, operation walk, the charity he founded, has provided free surgeries for thousands of vulnerable people around the globe. now with tough economic times in this country, dr. dorr is bringing his charity home. during a recent two-day span, he and 60 other orthopedic surgeons operated on uninsured patients, replacing their bad hips and knees. >> these people all have lost their hope for their tomorrows. >> reporter: 85 people have regained the ability to walk for free in what would normally be a $30,000 to $50,000 operation. this recording artist needed both hips replaced. in the '90s, cherry had her own band and hit song that climbed the charts. then came difficulty walking and pain. terry couldn't even stand up long enough to sing. >> feel like you're 100 years old, right? she gave private lessons instead to pay the bills. steven robertson's pain was so severe, he contemplated ending his life. >> when things narrow, you start feeling hopeless. >

dr. nancy snyderman. >> reporter: 60-year-old carmella got the message early in life. and she's been a long time believer in strength training. >> the core is the heart of stability. and from there you're able to then strengthen and improve on your balance, on your flexibility, even on your muscle toning. >> reporter: most women over 40 don't know what carmella knows and they pay the price. it's common for a woman to lose two inches by the age of 70 and 3 inches by the age of 80. due to weak muscles and the flattening of disks in the vertebral columns. >> most of the height loss we see in women is preventable if we start early. >> reporter: now, carmella is teaching other women what has kept her long, lean and powerful. it's all about building muscles and keeping them strong. the women in carmella's class are clearly seeing and feeling the benefits. >> i know i'm walking taller. >> reporter: at 74, loretta is a believer. >> i want to stay strong. my mom lived to almost 99. i want to beat her. >> reporter: that also means knowing your risk factors, including entering me

dr. nancy snyderman, our chief medical editor joins us in studio. u.s.anel advises against routine prostate test. what is this story about? >> this is a little bit of a controversy that's been spinning around in the medical arenas for quite some time. the risk benefit ratio of the routine blood test men are accustomed to. now it is expected that's going to play out with the u.s. preventative task force. on tuesday it is expected that this force -- this is the same group that suggested changing the mammogram guidelines a couple of years ago. it is expected that they will issue new recommendations that the psa test men routinely take to check for prostate cancer may not be a good screening test at all and should not be routinely done and here's why. the concern is that the test could be elevated even with benign problems like inflammation or enlarged prostate and once you have the elevated test it leads you to a biopsy, unnecessary treatment. as we talk about economics it comes back to not hurting the patient, not spending undue money. >> of course cancer

dr. nancy snyderman reports on how a former president who's been scared straight and almost died for hishabits is doing his part for some of those kids. >> reporter: with nearly 25 million american children overweight or obese, the war is being waged on the front lines. a major initiative has found its way into school, most in urban districts, changing its menu from frozen to fresh, from sodas to freshly squeezed juices. >> i don't see a fryer anywhere. >> oh, no. this is what a kitchen looks like in a school. there are no fryers. >> reporter: and you might be surprised to learn who is behind it. >> hi. >> reporter: former president clinton's emergency heart surgery several years ago forced him to take a second look, not just at improving his own health but others as well. >> why do you see the investment in these kids as so important? >> children need enough foot, the right kind of food to grow and to develop their bodies and their brains. and then if they don't get the right kind, it can slow them down dramatically. when i had all these heart problems, i realized that all of this was t

dr. nancy snyderman, nbc news, haiti. >>> that's our broadcast on a monday night as we begin a new week.ou for being here with us, i'm brian williams. we of course hope to see you right back here tomorrow evening. good night. don't wait for awesome... totino's pizza rolls... ...gets you there in just 60 seconds. go bold with flavors that kick. (humming) oh yeah. (humming) they're magically delicious. ha! very funny, kyle. >>> lights camera golden globes. >> amal what are your impressions so far? >> it's a bit crazy. >> it's a little nutty. >> these newlyweds sure know how to make an entrance. i'm bullyilly bush an

dr. nancy snyderman, nbc news, princeton, new jer >>> these "nbc niy

dr. nancy snyderman looks at what is going on. >> reporter: for parents like linda whose two sons have adhdst few months have been rough. >> we have not been able to get my sons adhd medications. we were told that it was on back order and they had no idea when it was going to come in, become available. >> reporter: she's not alone. there is a nationwide shortage forcing parents like linda to drive from pharmacy to pharmacy. she even rations pills to her sons on weekends. the demand for the medications is higher than ever, with more than 51.5 million prescriptions written in 2010. that's up 11% from the year before. why is this happening? there are more patients, fewer companies making pills, and production glitches. and there is a growing underground market for these drugs with college students using them as performance boosters. >> somehow the government, i think has to get involved and monitor the medication more closely so that the people that really need it and that have prescriptions for it can get it. >> reporter: complicating the issue, the drug enforcement administration, which regu

dr. nancy snyderman, nbc news, new york. >> and dr. nancy snyderman will be here live to answer your questions about the new screening guidelines later in the hour. here's lester. >>> barely a month after a british couple were taken from their yacht by smoe mali pirates, a british television station shows a new tape pleading for their lives. stephanie gosk has the latest on that. hey, stephanie. >> reporter: good morning, lester. today is the chandlers' 30th day in a captivity. the couple were sailing in the indian ocean to tanzania when they were hijacked by the pirates. on the tape, they are surrounded by gun-wielding pirates while they speak to camera. paul chandler says up until now they've been fed and are physically healthy, but emotionally the stress has been extremely difficult. the pirates have demanded a ransom of $6.6 million, which up until now the british gocht has not responded to. the government's policy, much like the u.s. policy, is is not to negotiate with hostage-takers. still, the chandlers are asking for help. >> s

dr. nancy snyderman with a cautionary note here. after our coverage thank you, nancy, as always. >>> our weather continues to make news as millions are in the grip of a cruel kind of cold, clear to the eastern seaboard. many communities saw yesterday's highs cut in half still. parts of the northeast which saw a record number of snowfall over the last week have flash frozen leaving the roads an icy treacherous obstacle course. miguel almaguer is in boston for us again tonight. miguel, good evening. >> reporter: brian, good evening. this is one of three snow farms in the city of boston where they bring all the powder to thaw. our camera is 40 feet up on a snow pile that is four stories deep. i want to give you even more perspective. this snow farm runs the length of a football field. there are mounds of snow on both sides of this access road. tonight the city says there's no more room here but another storm is on the way come thursday. today the desperate break from falling snow. but no relief from bone-chilling cold. the arctic blast

dr. nancy snyderman is in port-au-prince. nancy, good evening. >> reporter: good evening, brian. michelle obama is making the world's children a top priority, and today she came to haiti to offer support to some of the children who need it the most. they came for a firsthand look and their helicopter tour took michelle obama and dr. jill biden over cities reeling from january's earthquake. after touching down in port-au-prince to meet president renee preval and his wife elizabeth, the next stop was a visit to a special arts program. haiti's first lady set it up to help children cope in the aftermath of the quake. greeted by children singing welcome, mrs. obama joined right in. dancing and trying her hand at painting. mrs. obama and dr. biden's visit was unannounced and security very tight. at a news conference, mrs. obama said, although the road ahead would not be easy, haiti has the u.s.'s support. >> after so much loss, how on earth can you still have hope? well, we have hope because we've been inspired. inspired by the resilience and the faith of the haitian people. people who

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dr. nancy snyderman in boston tonight, a city to repeat that today declared a public health emergency because of this flu outbreak. nancy, thanks. >>> as we mentioned, there is also news tonight about ovarian cancer. it's a dangerous killer, way too often tough to diagnosis. but now a small study to point the way to catching it early. which will, of course, save lives. it begins with a simple test that women already get routinely. our report tonight from our chief science correspondent, robert bazell. >> reporter: the experimental test could revolutionize early detections for two major women's cancers. uterine, which kills 8,000 women a year in this country. and ovarian, which kills 15,000. >> this has the potential to fill in a niche where there is no effective screening test. >> reporter: linda defino has stage 3 ovarian cancer. she had a fullness in her abdomen, a symptom women often ignore. >> i started to feel this strange feeling that i just knew wasn't right. >> reporter: she is undergoing 18 weeks of chemotherapy. doctors have long been searching for a test to find ovarian cancer earl

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dr. nancy snyderman joins us, so we heard the one physician at the end of the piece. nancy, what is the advice? how would you advise a male say over 45, what years of age should they start as fathers? >> not every father that is older will have a child with psychiatric issues. but it does raise an increasing belief that science has been able to push the limits. perhaps there is a real biological window for men and for women. and real sort of optimum time in one's life to have children. i think it is an important time to remember that if you're going to plan to have a family to talk about that window for career, life-style, children and certainly, the biologic age of mom and dad. because the age of eggs and sperm now, we know scientifically do play their individual roles. >> all right, dr. nancy snyderman, with answers to questions out of this, as always, thank you. >>> and there is extreme weather to report about tonight, lots of it making news once again. we'll start in the west where they're getting ready for some of the heaviest rain in california in sometime. you

dr. nancy snyderman, nbc news, new york. >>> we're back in a moment with something that happened today that hasn't happened in nearly 40 years. so anyway, i've been to a lot of places. you know, i've helped a lot of people save a lot of money. but today...( sfx: loud noise of large metal object hitting the ground) things have been a little strange. (sfx: sound of piano smashing) roadrunner: meep meep. meep meep? (sfx: loud thud sound) what a strange place. geico®. fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent or more on car insurance. sleep in my contacts. relax... air optix® night & day aqua contact lenses are approved for up to 30 days and nights of continuous wear, so it's okay to sleep in them. visit airoptix.com for a free 1-month trial. ready or not, here i come! ♪ found ya! you always find me. you always hide here. [ male announcer ] tim and richard smucker have always loved the taste of just-picked fruit. so it's no wonder why today smucker's makes the world's best jam. for five generations, with a name like smucker's, it has to be good. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> something that hasn't happened i

dr. nancy snyderman is answering questions about the new law. will participate in a twitter chat @nbcnews at 11:00. aus the #on facebook and google plus. >>> dress for two seasons today. this morning you'll need long sleeves. it's cool. we're in the 50s and rather cloudy. sun breaks out later this morning. it will feel like summer during the afternoon. you'll be comfortable in short sleeves as we reach the low 80s. warm pattern continues for the rest of the week. danella, how's traffic? >>> the outer loop at van dorn completely moved to the shoulder lane. soon all of your lanes will be open on the outer loop. >>> that is "news 4 today." thank you for starting your news with us. >> the "today" show is next. we'll be back in 25 minutes with weather, traffic, news. hope you'll join us tomorrow morning at 4:26. morning at 4:26. >> ♪ for a store near you go to benjaminmoore.com/dcmetro. oh, please don't call me "pumpkin." no, white chocolate and pumpkin. oh! pumpkin. ha-ha! pumpkin is back at dunkin' donuts. hurry in for delicious pumpkin coffees and

dr. nancy snyderman is in port-au-prince tight with the latest. >> reporter: even if the haitian vernment and aid organizations intensified efforts to can tan the disease, their worst fears are now realized. there are five confirmed cases of cholera in the nation's c capitca capitol port-au-prince. it could hit the tent camps and spread like wildfire. >> we are trying to specifically inform the people of the camps. they are more at risk for the conditions they are living. >> reporter: for now the epidemic is in the rural areas in haiti. hospitals are inundated with the ill lying on floors. dehydrated children hooked up to i.v.s and many too weak to move. cholera is a bacterial infection from contaminated water or food. it causes severe vomiting and diarrhea. while it is not spread person to person it can move quickly through communities where the water isn't clear. [ speaking in a foreign language ] >> reporter: people are dying, says this woman. she knows they aren't supposed to drink the untreated water but says it's all they have. public health officials have a concern about a cholera

dr. nancy snyderman, looks back at the birth of the birth control pill. >> these are birth control pills coming off a production line. >> reporter: rarely in history has something so small been credited with and vilified for so much. >> the birth control pill has been opposed from the minute it hit the market. so it is, in fact, a very long struggle to get to today. >> reporter: decades of struggle in the laboratory by a team of dedicated researchers, including dr. john rock, a catholic fertility specialist. >> the woman now can imitate nature. >> reporter: but fda approval of the oral contraceptive 50 years ago this month was only the first step on a long and arduous journey to access and acceptance. enmeshed in the turmoil of the 1960s. faye waddleton is the former head of planned parenthood. >> many sectors of society were saying, i want to be liberated. i want to be treated as a human being. i want to realize the american dream. and along came the technology that liberated us from the traditional role of being barefoot and pregnant. >> reporter: but it took until 1972 and a supreme c