JOHN: TONIGHT ON PBS NEWS WEEKEND -- STRAINS ON THE WEEK-OLD CEASE-FIRE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS AS ISRAEL SAYS IT LAUNCHED STRIKES INSIDE GAZA IN RESPONSE TO HAMAS ATTACKS ON ITS TROOPS.

THEN, HOW THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS SPURRING DRAMATIC CHANGE IN THIS COUNTRY'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AND A RARE FLEETING FIRST OF COLOR IN ONE OF THE UNLIKELIEST OF PLACES ON EARTH.

>> THE ATACAMA DESERT IS THE DRIEST IN THE WORLD AND ALSO ONE OF THE TERRITORIES WITH THE HIGHEST SOLAR RADIATION.

THE FACT THAT A PLANT CAN GROW IN THESE CONDITIONS IS QUITE REMARKABLE.

♪ >## MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE PBS NEWS WEEKEND HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY -- ♪ > THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS.

AND FRIENDS OF THE NEWS HOUR.

♪ >>## THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VI.. LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

JOHN: GOOD EVENING RAID I'M JOHN YANG.

TONIGHT THERE ARE MAJOR STRAINS ON THE FRAGILE CEASE-FIRE BETWEEN HAMAS AND ISRAEL WHICH IS ONLY BEEN IN PLACE FOR A LITTLE MORE THAN A WEEK TO READ ISRAEL SAID IT CARRIED OUT A SERIES OF STRIKES ACROSS GAZA IN RESPONSE TO HAMAS ATTACKS ON TROOPS NEAR RAFA ON THE BORDER WITH EGYPT.

ISRAEL SAYS IT IS CUTTING OFF AID TO GAZA UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

ONE ISRAELI TARGET WAS A SEASIDE COFFEE SHOP.

GAZA HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY DOZENS OF PALESTINIANS WERE KILLED.

IN ISRAEL IT HAS BEEN A BITTERSWEET DAY.

CELEBRATIONS IS MORE FREED HOSTAGES WERE RETURNED TO THEIR HOMES AND FAMILIES, AND MOURNING AS ONE WAS LAID TO REST, HE WAS KILLED IN THE OCTOBER 7 ATTACKS AND HIS BODY KEPT IN GAZA UNTIL NOW.

THE REMAINS OF TWO MORE HOSTAGES WHO DIED IN CAPTIVITY WERE RETURNED SO THEY MAY BE GIVEN PROPER BURIAL.

OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT IS IN TEL AVIV TONIGHT.

IT SEEMS THE CEASE-FIRE HAS RUN INTO A LOT OF PROBLEMS RATHER RAPIDLY THIS WEEKEND.

WHAT IS THE LATEST?

REPORTER: THERE WERE PROBLEMS FROM THE BEGINNING ON MONDAY, 20 HOSTAGES WERE RELEASED AND ONLY FOUR OF THE DECEASED HOSTAGES WERE RELEASED.

THAT PROMPTED OUTCRY FROM FAMILIES AND THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT STARTED THREATENING TO CLOSE THE RAFA CROSSING AND NOT ALLOW AID IN.

HAMAS HAS NOT AGREED THAT THEY WILL STOP BEING IN CHARGE OF THE GAZA STRIP SO THEY REINFORCED AS THE IDF PULLED BACK AND THEY STARTED ARRESTING AND PUBLIC EXECUTIONS OF THESE GANGS THEY SAY ISRAEL HAS TRIED TO FIGHT THEM, AND THEY WANT TO REESTABLISH THEIR POWER.

THERE WAS A COMMENT FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP WHO SAID IF THEY ARE KILLING PEOPLE IN GAZA, THAT VIOLATES THE CEASE-FIRE AND WE WILL GO BACK AND KILL THEM.

HE DID NOT MEAN U.S.

TROOPS BUT ISRAELI TROOPS.

THEN THIS WEEKEND WE HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE VIOLATIONS AND BOTH SIDES ARE SAYING, EACH SIDE IS VIOLATING.

YESTERDAY THERE WAS A BUST THAT CROSSED -- A BUS THAT CROSSED INTO DOES A CITY, A FAMILY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR HOME.

11 PEOPLE WERE KILLED WHEN THE IDF FIRED A SHELL AT THE BUS INCLUDING SEVEN CHILDREN.

IN RAFA, THE IDF SAID THEY WERE ATTACKED BY HAMAS AND TWO SOLDIERS WERE KILLED.

THEY RESPONDED WITH A MASSIVE WAVE OF AIRSTRIKES THAT HAVE KILLED DOZENS OF PEOPLE THUS FAR.

MANY VIOLATIONS ON BOTH SIDES.

THE DEFENSE MINISTER HAS SAID THEY ARE GOING TO PUT DOWN BORDER MARKS.

THEY WILL REESTABLISH THE CEASE-FIRE, AND ANYONE FIRING ON THAT LINE COULD BE FIRED UPON.

JOHN: THE IDEA OF THE CEASE-FIRE WAS TO NEGOTIATE THE BIG QUESTIONS, WHAT GAZA WOULD LOOK LIKE AFTER THE WAR.

IS THERE A CHANCE THIS COULD FALL APART AND THEY NEVER GET TO THOSE BIG QUESTIONS?

REPORTER: THERE ABSOLUTELY IS AND THAT WAS THE PROBLEM FROM THE START.

WHEN TRUMP WAS HERE MONDAY ADDRESSING ISRAELI PARLIAMENT HE SAID THIS IS IT, IT IS ALL OVER, BEST THING TO HAPPEN IN DECADES.

THAT WAS REALLY PREMATURE.

THE FACT TRUMP IS A DEAL GUY, THEY WANTED TO PUSH THIS THROUGH, AND STOP THE KILLING.

THEY WANTED TO STOP PEOPLE IN GAZA DYING, THEY WANTED TO GET AID IN.

THERE HAS BEEN THE LOT BEHIND THE SCENES WERE ALL THE PARTIES INVOLVED, MEDIATORS IN EGYPT AND QATAR FOCUSING ON DECONFLICTION, STOPPING BOMBINGS IN SCHELLING'S AND GETTING AID IN -- SHELLINGS AND GETTING AID IN.

BUT WE MAY NEVER GET THERE.

NOTHING ELSE HAS BEEN NEGOTIATED AND THE FRUITS OF THAT ARE BORN NOW.

IF WE STAY IN THIS STAGE WHERE IT IS ABOUT STOPPING AND STARTING MANY ARE CONCERNED THIS WILL TURN INTO A LEBANON SITUATION.

NEARLY A YEAR SINCE THAT CEASE-FIRE AND THERE BEEN HUNDREDS OF VIOLATIONS WHERE ISRAEL HAS STRUCK BOTH WITH AIRSTRIKES AND SHELLING LEBANON.

THEY SAY THEY HAVE IMPUNITY FOR THAT UNDER WORRIED THE SITUATION WILL REPEAT HERE WHERE ISRAEL CONTINUES TO STRIKE WHEN THEY SAY THERE IS A VIOLATION, OR THAT HAMAS HAS DONE SOMETHING, WHICH MEANS WE WILL NEVER PROGRESS TO THE NEXT STAGE, RECONSTRUCTION.

CAN THEY EVER GET MATERIALS IN?

WILL ISRAEL ALLOW BUILDING MATERIALS IN, UNLESS HAMAS IS BACK IN POWER WHICH THEY HAVE NOT AGREED TO.

BEYOND THAT A PALESTINIAN STATE, THERE ARE REFERENCES TO THAT.

THIS TECHNOCRATIC COMMITTEE, IS THIS FOR GAZA, IS THERE SOMETHING THAT WILL UNITE ALL THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES?

WHAT IS THE FUTURE HERE?

IT IS AN AMBITIOUS PLAN AND WE ARE LANGUISHING IN THE FIRST STAGE WHICH WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SURVIVE.

JOHN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IN TONIGHT'S OTHER HEADLINES --THERE WAS A BRAZEN DAYTIME ROBBERY AT THE LOUVRE MUSEUM TODAY, CARRIED OUT WHILE THE MUSEUM WAS OPEN TO VISITORS.

IN A CAPER THAT SOUNDS STRAIGHT OUT OF A MOVIE, OFFICIALS SAY THE THIEVES USED A BASKET LIFT, FORCED OPEN A WINDOW, SMASHED DISPLAY CASES OF PRICELESS NAPOLEONIC JEWELS, TOOK EIGHT OF THEM, AND MADE GOOD THEIR ESCAPE -- ALL IN LESS THAN TEN MINUTES.

MUSEUM OFFICIALS SAY THE THIEVES ENTERED THROUGH AN AREA WHERE CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY.

VISITORS WERE STEERED OUT OF THE MUSEUM BUT WEREN'T TOLD WHY.

>> WE WERE JUST READY TO GO IN TO SEE THE MONA LISA WHEN THEY SWEPT US OUT OF THE GALLERY, SWEPT US DOWN THE STAIRS BY THE WINGED VICTORY.

THEN WE WERE HEADED OUT THE EXIT -- WE DIDN'T REALISE THE WHOLE MUSEUM WAS BEING EVACUATED.

AND THEN WE ASKED THE GUARD AND THE GUARD SAID, "WE'RE HAVING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES."

JOHN: ONE PIECE WAS RECOVERED INSIDE THE MUSEUM AND WILL BE EVALUATED FOR DAMAGE.

IN JUNE, LOUVRE STAFF STAGED A WALKOUT -- SAYING THE MUSEUM WAS UNDERSTAFFED AND THAT SECURITY WAS INSUFFICIENT.

PRESIDENT TRUMP CALLED COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT GUSTAVO PETRO "AN ILLEGAL DRUG LEADER" AND SAID HE'S CUTTING U.S.

AID TO THE COUNTRY.

IN A TRUTH SOCIAL POST TODAY, MR.

TRUMP SAID THAT IF PETRO DOESN'T SHUT DOWN DRUG PRODUCTION THAT HE SAID IS KILLING AMERICANS, THE U.S.

WILL "CLOSE THEM UP FOR HIM."

THIS COMES HOURS AFTER PETRO ACCUSED THE U.S.

GOVERNMENT OF ASSASSINATION AND DEMANDED ANSWERS FOR A THURSDAY U.S.

STRIKE ON A COLOMBIAN BOAT IN CARRIBEAN WATERS.

SHORTLY AFTER MR.

TRUMP'S POST -- DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH SAID U.S.

FORCES ON FRIDAY CARRIED OUT A STRIKE ON ANOTHER VESSEL ALLEGED TO BE SMUGGLING DRUGS, KILLING THREE.

IT WAS THE SEVENTH KNOWN ATTACK SINCE LAST MONTH.

LONDON POLICE SAY THEY ARE INVESTIGATING ALLEGATIONS THAT PRINCE ANDREW ASKED A FORMER BODYGUARD TO DIG UP DAMAGING INFORMATION ABOUT THE WOMAN WHO ACCUSED HIM OF SEXUAL ASSAULT.

MEDIA REPORTS SAY THAT IN 2011, THE PRINCE GAVE VIRGINIA GIUFFRE'S BIRTH DATE AND SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER TO A LONDON POLICE OFFICER.

GIUFFRE, WHO TOOK HER OWN LIFE EARLIER THIS YEAR, SAID THE PRINCE ASSAULTED HER WHEN SHE WAS 17 YEARS OLD.

ON FRIDAY, PRINCE ANDREW GAVE UP THE ROYAL TITLE "DUKE OF YORK" FOLLOWING YEARS OF CONTROVERSY OVER HIS FRIENDSHIP WITH CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER JEFFREY EPSTEIN.

STILL TO COME ON "PBS NEWS WEEKEND" -- HOW THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS RESHAPING EDUCATION IN AMERICA.

AND, A BURST OF BLOOMS IN ONE OF THE DRIEST PLACES ON EARTH.

♪ JOHN: IN MARCH, PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO BEGIN SHUTTING DOWN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THOUGH IT WOULD TAKE AN ACT OF CONGRESS TO ACTUALLY CLOSE IT.

IN THE MEANTIME, THE DEPARTMENT IS TAKING DRAMATIC STEPS TOWARD FULFILLING A CONSERVATIVE VISION OF A RESHAPED SYSTEM OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION.

JENNIFER SMITH RICHARDS IS THE CO-AUTHOR OF A PROPUBLICA INVESTIGATION LOOKING INTO THIS.

JENNIFER, WHAT IS THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DOING?

WHAT STEPS ARE THEY TAKING?

JENNIFER: THEY HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR SINCE TRUMP TOOK OFFICE, THE IDEA WAS TO SHUT DOWN THE DEPARTMENT, AND THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION HAS CALLED IT HER FINAL MISSION AND TRUMP HAS CALLED THE DEPARTMENT A BIG CON JOB SO THAT HAS BEEN CLEAR, THIS DESIRE TO PHASE OUT MANY OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT AND CLOSE IT DOWN.

WHAT IS LESS CLEAR IS WHY MCMAHON HAS BROUGHT IN A NUMBER OF POLITICAL STRATEGISTS AND ULTRACONSERVATIVE ACTIVISTS INTO THE OFFICE, EVEN AS IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE SHUTTING DOWN AND WINDING DOWN.

THOSE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN QUIET FRANKLY ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE DOING BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE DEPARTMENT.

JOHN: IS THERE A COMMON THREAD RUNNING THROUGH THESE APPOINTMENTS?

DO THEY ALL HAVE SIMILAR GOALS OR THINGS THEY HAVE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST ABOUT EDUCATION?

JENNIFER: THEY HAVE.

MY COLLEAGUE AND I AT REPUBLICAN WENT THROUGH -- AT PROPUBLICA WENT THROUGH HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF SPEECHES AND WRITINGS FROM THESE APPOINTEES THAT LAY OUT A VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF AMERICAN EDUCATION AND THE TRUE LINE IS, THEY WANT TO BREAK UP WHAT THEY VIEW AS A MONOPOLY THAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE.

THEY ENVISION A FUTURE THAT FAR FEWER STUDENTS WILL BE ATTENDING A PUBLIC SCHOOL.

JOHN: I HAVE HEARD PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THIS, IN THE VIEW OF THE IDEA OF RETURNING POWER TO THE PARENTS TO L THEM FIGURE OUT WHAT SCHOOLS ARE DOING WELL AND LET THEM SEND THE MONEY THERE.

WHAT DO THE CRITICS SAY ABOUT THIS?

JENNIFER: CRITICS SAY YOU NEED A STRONG PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR MANY REASONS.

ONE, PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE REQUIRED TO SERVE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES WHEREAS PRIVATE SCHOOLS ARE NOT.

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL SYSTEM IS A DEMOCRATIC IDEA, DESIGNED TO SERVE ANY AND ALL STUDENTS WHO COME THROUGH THEIR DOORS.

PRIVATE SCHOOL CHOICE MEANS PRIVATE SCHOOLS ALSO GET TO CHOOSE WHICH STUDENTS THEY WILL ACCEPT.

JOHN: ON THE ONE HAND THE ADMINISTRATION SAYS MOST DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS AT SCHOOL SHOULD BE DONE AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL, BUT ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT GETTING INVOLVED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL ABOUT CURRICULUM DECISIONS?

JENNIFER: THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HISTORICALLY HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN DICTATING WHAT IS BEING TAUGHT IN THE CLASSROOM.

IT HAS NOT BEEN IN THE CURRICULUM BUSINESS, BUT WHAT WE ARE SAYING UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION, IS THE DESIRE TO PROMOTE CERTAIN TYPES OF CURRICULUM.

FOR EXAMPLE WHAT THEY REFER TO AS A PRO AMERICA OR PATRIOTIC CURRICULUM THAT WOULD BE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACROSS AMERICA.

WE HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF EDICTS AND MANDATES OUT OF THE DEPARTMENT HAVING TO DO WITH TEACHING RACISM AND GENDER AND DIVERSITY ISSUES.

THOSE ARE STEPS WE HAVE NOT SEEN FREQUENTLY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.

WE REALLY ARE SAYING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT START TO REACH INTO CLASSROOMS AND AWAY WE ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH.

JOHN: SOME STATES HAVE TRIED TO DO THIS, HAVEN'T THERE?

JENNIFER: THERE HAVE BEEN.

STATES THAT TEND TO HAVE MAJORITY REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURES HAVE ADVANCED SEVERAL BILLS YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD OF, THE ANTI-DEI OR ANTI-CRT BILLS, ANTI-TRANSGENDER BATHROOM BILLS.

THESE REFORMS HAVE BEEN TESTED IN INDIVIDUAL STATES AND HAVE BEEN UPHELD BY COURTS SO FAR IN MANY OF THE STATES.

SO YES THERE IS A RED STATE TESTING GROUND FOR MANY OF THESE IDEAS THAT WE ARE SEEING PLAY OUT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

JOHN: HOW HAVE THE RESULTS BEEN?

THESE TESTING GROUNDS, WHAT HAVE BEEN THE RESULTS?

JENNIFER: I CAN'T SAY FOR SURE IN EVERY STATE, BUT IN SOME THE TESTING GROUNDS HAVE HELD UP.

SO STATES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ADOPT LAWS THAT RESTRICT SEVERELY TEACHING ABOUT RACISM AND GENDER.

THEY HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN PASSING BATHROOM BILLS THAT PREVENT TRANSGENDER STUDENTS FROM USING THE BATHROOM OR LOCKER ROOM AT SCHOOL, THAT MATCHES THEIR GENDER IDENTITY.

THOSE HAVE BEEN IN PLACE.

A NUMBER OF STATES HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN LIMITING THE TYPE OF MATERIAL THAT CAN BE AT A SCHOOL, A SCHOOL LIBRARY OR ON A TEACHER'S BOOKSHELF.

WE ARE SEEING A COPYING OF THAT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL NOW, WHERE WE ARE HEARING FOR THE FIRST TIME, AT LEAST IN AS MANY YEARS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THAT THEY WANT TO PUSH CERTAIN TYPES OF CURRICULUM AND TEACHING INTO CLASSROOMS.

JOHN: JENNIFER SMITH RICHARDS OF PROPUBLICA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

JENNIFER: THANK YOU.

♪ JOHN: THE END OF BREAST CANCER TREATMENT IS CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION, BUT FOR MANY PATIENTS, IT CAN BRING NEW CHALLENGES.

THEY COULD INCLUDE LYMPHEDEMA, A PAINFUL SWELLING OF TISSUE DUE TO EXCESS FLUID RETENTION.

SOME STUDIES SHOW UP TO 65% OF WOMEN WHO UNDERGO BREAST CANCER SURGERY DEVELOP LYMPHEDEMA.

ALI ROGIN SPOKE WITH TWO MEMBERS OF THE NONPROFIT LYMPHEDEMA EDUCATION AND RESEARCH NETWORK -- DR.

STANLEY ROCKSON OF STANFORD MEDICINE, AND RETIRED ARMY COLONEL SUSAN FONDY, WHO'S ALSO A PHYSICIAN.

ALI: THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

DR.

ROCKSON, LET'S START WITH YOU.

WHY IS LYMPHEDEMA SO COMMON AMONG BREAST CANCER PATIENTS?

DR.

ROCKSON: LYMPHEDEMA OCCURS BECAUSE THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM HAS BEEN DAMAGED AND SYSTEMATICALLY WE HAVE TO DO THAT BOTH TO DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE TREATMENT FOR BREAST CANCER AND TO CURTAIL THE CANCER.

SO LYMPH NODES ARE REMOVED, BUT THAT CREATES DAMAGE.

80%, 85% OF THE TIME THAT DAMAGE CAN BE ACCOMMODATED BY THE BODY, BUT 15% OF TIME IT RESULTS IN MALFUNCTION AND THAT'S WHAT WE CALL LYMPHEDEMA.

AND BECAUSE BREAST CANCER IS SO COMMON AMONG WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES, THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE AFFECTED, EVEN IF IT'S ONLY 15%, WILL BE RELATIVELY LARGE.

ALI: COLONEL FONDY, YOU WERE DIAGNOSED WITH STAGE THREE BREAST CANCER AND DEVELOPED LYMPHEDEMA FOLLOWING YOUR TREATMENT.

BUT AS A PHYSICIAN YOURSELF, WHEN YOU WERE GOING INOR CONSULTATION, YOU ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR RISK.

WHAT DID DOCTORS AT THE TIME TELL YOU?

COLONEL FONDY: WHEN I WAS FIRST DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER, THE SURGEON SAW ME AND HE TALKED TO ME ABOUT THE POSSIBLE TREATMENT OPTIONS AS FAR AS SURGERY WENT, BUT HE NEVER MENTIONED LYMPHEDEMA.

AND THEN HE REACHED FOR THE DOORKNOB AND HE TURNED BACK AND ASKED ME IF I HAD ANY QUESTIONS.

AND I SAID, WHAT ABOUT LYMPHEDEMA?

AND HE SAID, WHAT ABOUT IT?

I WAS KIND OF SURPRISED.

I JUST SORT OF STAMMERED, I DON'T WANT TO GET IT.

AND HE SAID, YOU WON'T.

YOU'RE SMALL.

AND HE WAS MISTAKEN AND MISINFORMED.

THE ONLY RISK FACTOR THAT I DID NOT HAVE FOR LYMPHEDEMA WAS OBESITY.

I HAD ALL OF THE OTHER RISK FACTORS AND HE WAS JUST NOT EDUCATED IN THAT.

HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT, SO HE DID NOT WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.

WHEN I WAS FIRST DIAGNOSED, I WAS GIVEN A LYMPHEDEMA COMPRESSION SLEEVE.

VERY QUICKLY, MY HAND SWELLED UP AND THEN I WAS GIVEN A GLOVE AS WELL.

I HAVE WORN COMPRESSION SLEEVES AND GLOVES DAY AND NIGHT FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS.

I PURSUED A SURGICAL OPTION IN 2016 AND IT DID NOT HELP.

I PURSUED ANOTHER SURGICAL OPTION ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND I HAVE SEEN SOME BIG IMPROVEMENT FROM THAT.

JOHN: DR.

ROCKSON, HOW COMMON IS IT FOR DOCTORS WHO TREAT BREAST CANCER TO NOT HAVE A TREMENDOUS AWARENESS OF THE POTENTIAL FOR AND TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR LYMPHEDEMA?

DR.

ROCKSON: IT'S UNFORTUNATELY VERY COMMON.

THE SITUATION IS IMPROVING, BUT NOT RAPIDLY ENOUGH.

I DID A STUDY BACK IN 2004 TO DETERMINE WHAT AMOUNT OF TIME IS SPENT IN A MEDICAL SCHOOL EDUCATION ON THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM IN TOTAL AND LEARNED THAT ON AVERAGE, IT'S 15 TO 30 MINUTES OUT OF A FOUR-YEAR EDUCATION.

SO THERE'S NOT REALLY ENOUGH TIME TO PROPERLY EDUCATE CLINICIANS ON THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF EVEN A COMMON DISORDER OF THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM IF IT'S NOT STUDIED.

ALI: AND DR.

ROCKSON, WALK US THROUGH THE SPECTRUM OF EFFORTS AND OPTIONS TO BOTH PREVENT GETTING LYMPHEDEMA AND THEN ALSO MITIGATING IT ONCE IT'S BEEN DETECTED.

DR.

ROCKSON: THE MOST IMPORTANT PREVENTIVE STRATEGY, OF COURSE, IS MINIMIZING THE NUMBER OF LYMPH NODES THAT NEED TO BE SURGICALLY EXCISED.

AND THERE HAS BEEN A MOVEMENT OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS PROGRESSIVELY TO ACCOMMODATE THAT NEED.

RADIATION PROTOCOLS HAVE ALSO BEEN CURTAILED IN SUCH A WAY AS TO MINIMIZE LYMPHATIC DAMAGE.

THEN WE NEED SURVEILLANCE.

AND IN WELL-INFORMED CENTERS, THIS OCCURS ON A QUARTERLY BASIS OVER THE NEXT 24 MONTHS AT A MINIMUM.

AND IF WE UNDERTAKE AGGRESSIVE TREATMENT AT THAT POINT, WE CAN ACTUALLY PREVENT LYMPHEDEMA IN ABOUT 50% OF CASES.

ONCE THE LYMPHEDEMMA OCCURS, THEN THERE IS A VERY STANDARD PROTOCOL FOR PHYSICAL INTERVENTIONS TO MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF EDEMA THAT HAS DEVELOPED DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME, AND THEN A MAINTENANCE REGIMEN THAT INCLUDES COMPRESSION GARMENTS AND DEVICES AND OTHER APPROACHES TO TRY TO MAINTAIN THAT BENEFIT OVER TIME.

ALI: COLONEL FONDY, I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU ABOUT WHAT IT'S LIKE LIVING WITH THIS CONDITION.

YOU RECENTLY RETIRED AS AN ARMY FLIGHT SURGEON, BUT HOW DID IT AFFECT BOTH YOUR MILITARY CAREER AND YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE?

COLONEL FONDY: IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAUSES YOU TO NOT BE ABLE TO EVER BE DONE WITH CANCER.

I HAVE THIS THING THAT I LOOK AT OR I HAVE TO MANAGE EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY DAY.

AND IN THE MILITARY, IT WAS PARTICULARLY BOTHERSOME BOTH BECAUSE I WASN'T ABLE TO DO SOME OF THE THINGS I NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO DO, BUT ALSO BECAUSE EVERY TIME I SHOOK HANDS WITH SOMEBODY OR SALUTED, MY LYMPHEDEMA WAS FRONT AND CENTER.

SO I COULDN'T STEP BEYOND IT.

ALI: AND COLONEL FONDY, YOU HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING ON CAPITOL HILL IN SUPPORT OF FEDERAL FUNDING FOR LYMPHEDEMA RESEARCH.

WHAT IS THE STATE OF THOSE EFFORTS?

COLONEL FONDY: IN 2023 LYMPHEDEMA AND LYMPHATIC DISEASES WERE ADDED TO A LIST OF DISEASES THAT RECEIVE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR BASIC RESEARCH.

THIS PAST YEAR, LYMPHEDEMA AND LYMPHATIC DISEASE WERE DROPPED ENTIRELY FROM THE LIST.

AND NOBODY KNOWS WHY, SO WE'VE BEEN ADVOCATING ON CAPITAL HILL TO GET LYMPHATIC DISEASES ADDED BACK TO THAT LIST OF DISEASES THAT CAN COMPETE FOR THAT FUNDING.

THIS IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE OUR LYMPHATIC RESEARCHERS THEY HAVE NOT BEEN , ABLE TO DO THE AMOUNT OF RESEARCH THAT IS NEEDED.

WHAT WE NEED ON CAPITOL HILL IS WE NEED ONE OF THE SENATORS TO BE A HERO.

WE NEED THEM TO STEP UP AND ADD LYMPHATIC DISEASES BACK TO THAT LIST OF DISEASES SO OUR RESEARCHERS CAN CONTINUE DOING RESEARCH.

FOR THIS VERY PREVALENT DISEASE.

ALI: DR.

STANLEY ROCKSON, COLONEL AND DR.

SUSAN FONDY, THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME.

♪ JOHN: WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT WITH A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT IN AN UNEXPECTED PLACE.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM TELLS US ABOUT IT.

WILLIAM: THESE WILDFLOWERS, GENTLY BLOWING IN THE BREEZE, ARE DELICATE AND RARE.

BECAUSE THEY LIVE IN ONE OF THE DRIEST PLACES ON EARTH, A PLACE USUALLY HOSTILE TO ANY KIND OF FLOWERING PLANT.

THIS IS THE ATACAMA DESERT, A SPRAWLING STRETCH OF LAND SQUEEZED BETWEEN THE PACIFIC OCEAN AND THE ANDES MOUNTAINS, MOSTLY IN CHILE.

IT NORMALLY GETS JUST 2 MILLIMETERS OF RAIN EVERY YEAR.

BUT THIS JULY AND AUGUST, SOME PARTS OF THE DESERT GOT 60 MILLIMETERS OF RAIN.

BUT RAIN ISN'T THE ONLY CONDITION NEEDED FOR THIS LANDSCAPE TO BE TRANSFORMED, SAYS VICTOR ARDILES, THE HEAD OF BOTANY AT CHILE'S MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY.

>> WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A THRESHOLD THAT MUST EXCEED 15 MILLIMETERS OF RAINFALL FOR THE SEEDS TO BEGIN TO ACTIVATE.

BUT IN ADDITION TO WATER OR PRECIPITATION, WE NEED TEMPERATURE, WE NEED A CERTAIN NUMBER OF HOURS OF DAYLIGHT, AND WE ALSO NEED HUMIDITY.

WILLIAM: THIS YEAR, THOSE PROVERBIAL STARS ALIGNED, AND THE BLOOMS ARE BURSTING.

ARIEL ORELLANA STUDIES PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY AT THE ANDRES BELLO UNIVERSITY.

>> THE ATACAMA DESERT IS THE DRIEST IN THE WORLD AND ALSO ONE OF THE TERRITORIES WITH THE HIGHEST SOLAR RADIATION AND ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION ON THE PLANET.

THIS MEANS THERE ARE VERY ADVERSE CONDITIONS FOR THE GROWTH OF ANY LIVING BEING, AND THE FACT THAT A PLANT CAN GROW IN THESE CONDITIONS IS QUITE REMARKABLE.

WE WANTED TO INVESTIGATE IT TO UNDERSTAND THE MECHANISMS IT USES TO SURVIVE IN SUCH A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT.

WILLIAM: THIS FLORAL DISPLAY HAS DRAWN TOURISTS AND SCIENTISTS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND JUST HOW THESE PLANTS DO IT.

>> COORDINATION AND JOINT WORK WITH ACADEMICS AND RESEARCHERS STUDYING THE PHYSIOLOGY OF THIS PLANT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

HOW CAN IT PRODUCE ENOUGH FOOD AND PERFORM PHOTOSYNTHESIS TO WITHSTAND EXTREME CONDITIONS?

WILLIAM: ORELLANA SAYS UNDERSTANDING THESE INDIVIDUAL PLANTS IS KEY IN THE AGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> THIS PLANT HAS THE ABILITY TO TOLERATE DROUGHT VERY WELL, WHICH IS A SERIOUS AND GROWING ISSUE IN GLOBAL AGRICULTURE.

THEREFORE, BY UNDERSTANDING THE GENOME, THE GENETIC INFORMATION OF THIS PLANT AND AT THE SAME TIME IDENTIFYING WHICH GENES ARE EXPRESSED WHEN IT IS EXPOSED TO DROUGHT, WE COULD POTENTIALLY USE THAT KNOWLEDGE TO DEVELOP CROPS WITH GREATER DROUGHT TOLERANCE.

WILLIAM: MOST OF THESE FLOWERS WILL DISAPPEAR BY NOVEMBER, AS SOUTH AMERICA EDGES CLOSER TO ITS SUMMER SEASON.

FOR PBS NEWS WEEKEND, I'M WILLIAM BRANGHAM.

♪ OHN: THAT IS PBS NEWS WEEKEND FOR THIS I'M JOHN YANG.

SUNDAY.

FOR ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.