Harvard Health Content API

Women with an above-average risk of breast cancer may have a new option for preventing it. A new study found that taking exemestane (Aromasin) lowered the risk of developing this cancer. Tamoxifen and raloxifene also can help prevent breast cancer. But many women don’t take them because of side effects. Study results were presented June 5 at a conference. The study included 4,560 women. All had an above-average risk of developing breast cancer. Some were just age 60 or older. Some had a history of abnormal cells in the breast or a cancer that was in a breast duct only. Some had a high score on a scale that includes family history and other factors that increase risk. The women were randomly assigned to take exemestane or placebo (fake) pills. In the next 3 years, there were 11 cases of invasive (growing) breast cancer among the women who took exemestane.

A simple plate has replaced a complicated pyramid as the U.S. symbol of good nutrition. The new emblem, called “My Plate,” made its debut June 2. It’s a circle divided into different colored sections. Each section stands for a major type of food. Together, fruits and vegetables make up half of the plate. The “grains” section is a bit larger than one-quarter. The smallest section is “proteins,” formerly called “meat and beans.” A little circle off to the side of the plate is labeled “dairy.” Nutritionists have praised the new symbol for its simplicity. Many have said for years that people should fill half of their plates with fruits and vegetables. The previous symbol, called MyPyramid, had few supporters. Many found it confusing. Shaped like a triangle, it featured a rainbow of vertical stripes. A figure was shown climbing the side, to symbolize exercise.

A new vaccine helps to shrink tumors in people with advanced melanoma, researchers report. The vaccine includes a peptide — part of a protein — found on the surface of melanoma cells. It primes the immune system to recognize and attack cells with this peptide. The study included 185 people. They were randomly divided into two groups. Both groups received interleukin-2. This drug boosts one type of cell in the immune system. One of the groups also received the vaccine. Tumors shrank by at least half in 16% of the group that received the vaccine. This compares with 6% of the group that got interleukin-2 alone. The average time until the disease got worse was a bit longer with the vaccine — 2.2 months compared with 1.6 months. People also lived longer with the vaccine. Their median survival was 18 months, compared with 11 months for the interleukin-2 only group.

Cell phones are a “possible cause” of cancer, one group of experts says in a report to the World Health Organization (WHO). This puts cell phones into the same category as car exhaust, the pesticide DDT, coffee and more than 200 other substances. The decision came from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of WHO. The Associated Press wrote about it. Agency experts reviewed dozens of studies about cell phones. They concluded that there was limited evidence linking cell phone use to two types of brain tumors. They found too little evidence to draw conclusions for other cancers. About 30 studies done around the world have not found more cell phone use among people who developed brain tumors. A large study last year found no clear link between cell phones and cancer. But it did suggest a possible link between very heavy phone use and glioma, one form of brain cancer.

A study drug that increased “good” cholesterol failed to protect people from heart attacks or strokes, government researchers say. The study included more than 3,400 people. Their LDL (“bad cholesterol”) was well controlled with statin drugs. But they had low HDL, sometimes called “good cholesterol.” Low HDL increased their risk of heart attack and stroke. Taking niacin can raise HDL. People in the study were randomly divided into two groups. One group took Niaspan, a high-dose form of niacin. The other group received placebo (fake) pills. Both groups kept taking a statin. Researchers tracked them for an average of 32 months. HDL rose more for the Niaspan group than for the placebo group. But they had a similar overall rate of heart attack, stroke and related problems. The stroke rate was actually higher in the Niaspan group. That difference might have been caused by chance.

A major study has found a much larger rate of high blood pressure in young adults than expected — nearly 1 in 5. The study included 14,000 men and women, ages 24 through 32. Researchers asked whether anyone had told them they had high blood pressure. About 11% said yes. Then their blood pressure was measured. Readings were high for 19%. High blood pressure is 140 over 90 millimeters of mercury or higher. The high blood pressure rate was much higher than found in another major health survey taken at the same time. That study found 9% had been told they had high blood pressure and 4% actually had it. Researchers checked possible reasons for the difference. However, they were unable to explain it. The journal Epidemiology published the study online May 25. USA Today wrote about it.