Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Preventing Breast Cancer in Women at High Risk of Developing Breast Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* At increased risk of developing breast cancer, as defined by 1 of the following criteria:

  * 5-year Gail risk ≥ 1.7%
  * Calculated 5-year Gail risk ≥ 5 times the average for age group, as defined by 1 of the following:

    * At least 0.1% (for patients age 20-29)
    * At least 1.0% (for patients age 30-39)
    * At least 1.7% (for patients age 40 and over)
  * Known BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation carrier
  * Family history consistent with hereditary breast cancer, as defined by any of the following:

    * At least 4 relatives diagnosed with breast cancer at any age
    * At least 2 first-degree relatives diagnosed with breast cancer at age 50 or younger
    * Breast and ovarian cancer diagnosed in the same relative
    * At least 2 occurrences of breast cancer and 1 occurrence of ovarian cancer at any age in the same family
  * Atypical hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma in situ of the breast by prior biopsy
  * History of unilateral ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast
  * History of invasive stage I breast cancer in remission (completed local and systemic standard therapy)
  * History of ovarian cancer in remission for \> 5 years
* Baseline mammogram performed within the past 6 months with an interpretation of not suspicious for malignancy (BIRAD 1-3)
* Not eligible for OR refused standard breast cancer risk reduction strategies (e.g., prophylactic oophorectomy, prophylactic mastectomy, or tamoxifen)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

* 18 and over

Sex

* Female

Menopausal status

* Not specified

Performance status

* SWOG 0-1

Life expectancy

* Not specified

Hematopoietic

* Absolute granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3
* Hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dL

Hepatic

* SGOT and/or SGPT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN
* Bilirubin ≤ 2.0 times ULN

Renal

* Creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg/dL

Other

* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* No underlying medical, psychiatric, or social condition that would preclude study participation
* No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

* Not specified

Chemotherapy

* Not specified

Endocrine therapy

* More than 6 months since prior and no concurrent hormonal therapy, including any of the following:

  * Antiestrogens
  * Estrogen
  * Selective estrogen-receptor modulators
  * Progestins
  * Aromatase inhibitors
  * Hormonal contraceptives

Radiotherapy

* Not specified

Surgery

* No prior bilateral mastectomy

Other

* More than 3 months since prior and no concurrent chronic (i.e., \> 3 times per week) non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., aspirin, ibuprofen, or indomethacin) or cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors
* No prior cancer treatment that would preclude study treatment