her parents took her to md anderson cancer center. the doctor recommended a new kind of radiation called proton therapy. because it pinpoints the tumor so precisely, there's less damage to nearby healthy cells. >> she's a really smart kid, and i was able to really discuss therapy and radiation therapy and how we deliver it. i explained that proton therapy goes into the patient and then it stops, unlike x-ray therapy, which goes into the patient and goes out the other side. >> traditional radiation, or the newer proton therapy -- the choice was hailey's to make. like a school project, she spent time doing research. >> there was no question in her mind. she did not want to live with the seizures. she did not want to be over-medicated. she switched her research from regular, traditional radiation to the proton therapy, and with what she read, she felt more comfortable with it. >> hailey also decided to continue training, even through the treatment. >> i chose to continue training because when i'm here, i feel like i'm at home. and so, i

temperature it's cooked at can impact your risk for kidney cancer, according to the researchers at md anderson cancer center. more people are susceptible to the cancer causing chemicals released when smaet cooked at a really high temperature. the study comes on a report labeling processed meat as a carcinogenic. >>> a study in controlling blood pressure is getting a lot of attention tonight. it could change the guidelines for doctors. >> 17 heart experts are in florida this week and are learning about these findings. shiba russell has more for us. >> reporter: when if comes to treating high blood pressure, doctors keep one question in mind. >> how low is too low? >> dr. jackson wright in cleveland is one of the main investigators in a clinical trial that appears to give some answers. more than 9,000 people with hypertension and one other heart disease risk factor target the either 140 blood pressure reading or much lower down to at least 120. just three years into the planned five-year study the benefits of more intensive treatment were clear. fewer heart problems and a reduction in heart-rela

frank bonn, is the thoracic surgical director and director of the lung cancer program at md andersonancer center at cooper. dr. bowen, welcome. >> thank you for having me. >> tell us a little bit about lung cancer and who it affects. >> lung cancer is very prevalent in the united states. it affects men and women equally and it usually affects people in the 50 to 70-year-old range but we see cases of it in earlier patients. >> all right. what are the most common treatment options for lung cancer? >> there are several treatment options. if it's caught early, surgery is the most effective means for treating lung cancer and newer techniques using robotics or minimally invasive techniques. later stages are treated with radiation or chemotherapy. >> thank you. for answers to questions like these and much more, go to nbc10.com to sign up for this free webinar that will begin in a half hour at 12:30. >>> this is an nbc news special report. here's lester holt. >> good morning. from new york we're coming on the air because president obama is about to hold a news conference with french presiden

cooper university healthcare md anderson cancer center and rutgers camden are some of the education and congressman donald norcross took part in today's announcement. it's the holidays. which means a house full of people -- who all want to get online. so it's the perfect time for verizon fios. it has the fastest internet and wifi available. with speeds from 50 to 500 megs. and right now, you'll get 50 meg fios internet, tv and phone for 79.99 a month online for your first year. and with a 2 year agreement, we'll give you all the premium movie channels for a year. plus, 400 dollars back. so go online or call now. get out of the past. get fios. >> ♪ >> american love for the automobile doesn't come cheap. u.s. car buyers now owe more money on their wheels than ever. sales tracker auto data says the loans total more than $1 trillion. analysts attribute that to low interest rates and strong car sales despite rising prices. new car sales are up 6 percent so far this year and the average payment hasn't changed much over the last five years. it stands at just under $400 a month. >>> philadelphi