Docetaxel or Paclitaxel in Reducing Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in African American Patients With Stage I-III Breast Cancer

Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients must be women with a known stage I-III invasive breast cancer diagnosis
* Patients must be capable and willing to provide informed consent
* Patients must have plans to receive either neoadjuvant or adjuvant:

  * Every 3-week docetaxel x 4-6 cycles OR
  * Weekly paclitaxel x 4 cycles
  * NOTE: Recommended therapies for various therapy regimens are outlined based on estrogen receptor (ER)/progesterone receptor (PR)/HER2 and nodal status. Where there are options, the treating physician will choose a regimen best fitted for that patient. If the physician does not feel any of the regimens are the best fit for the patient, the patient should not be enrolled. Physicians will also document why a regimen was felt to be inappropriate when an option. Patients who have already started the anthracycline portion of their therapy are eligible assuming they have not yet begun the taxane portion and assuming they will be receiving one of the regimens deemed appropriate for her disease setting
* Patients must self-identify their race as black, African American, or of African descent; patients may be of any ethnicity
* Patients with a history of other cancers are eligible if they have not received prior taxane or platinum or vinca alkaloid therapy
* Patients must have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-1
* Patients of childbearing potential must be strongly advised to use an accepted and effective method of contraception or to abstain from sexual intercourse for the duration of their participation in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients must not have received prior taxane or prior/concurrent platinum therapy
* Patients must not have received neoadjuvant anti-HER2 therapy
* Patients must not have pre-existing peripheral neuropathy
* Patients must not have a total bilirubin \> upper limit of normal (ULN) (must be obtained within 3 weeks prior to registration)
* Patients must not have aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and/or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) above 1.5 times the ULN concomitant with alkaline phosphatase above 2.5 times the ULN (must be obtained within 3 weeks prior to registration)
* Patients must not be pregnant or lactating

  * All patients of childbearing potential must have a blood test or urine study within 2 weeks prior to registration to rule out pregnancy
  * A patient of childbearing potential is any woman, regardless of sexual orientation or whether they have undergone tubal ligation, who meets the following criteria: 1) has achieved menarche at some point, 2) has not undergone a hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy, or 3) has not been naturally postmenopausal for at least 24 consecutive months (i.e., has had menses at any time in the preceding 24 consecutive months)