Natural History Study of Fungal Infections of the Blood in Patients With Cancer or in Patients Who Have Undergone a Stem Cell Transplant

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Group A:

  * Meets any of the following criteria:

    * Diagnosis of hematological malignancy including, but not limited to, any of the following:

      * Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
      * Acute myeloid leukemia
      * Myelodysplastic syndromes
      * Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
    * Diagnosis of solid tumor, including, but not limited to, any of the following:

      * Breast cancer (hormone receptor status not specified)
      * Lung cancer
      * Colon cancer
    * Recipient of a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, including, but not limited to, any of the following:

      * Allogeneic or autologous bone marrow transplantation
      * Peripheral blood stem cell transplantation
  * Admitted to a participating hospital ward (defined as ≥ 1 overnight stay)
* Group B:

  * Meets the same criteria as in group A
  * Positive blood culture for a fungus

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* Male or female
* Menopausal status not specified

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* See Disease Characteristics
* No prior participation in this study