Effects of Chemotherapy on the Brain in Women With Newly Diagnosed Early-Stage Breast Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Diagnosis of breast cancer, meeting 1 of the following criteria:
• * Group A
• * Stage I, II, or III invasive disease
• * Hormone receptor-positive disease
• * Planned adjuvant chemotherapy including an anthracycline and taxane using either dose-dense or docetaxel, doxorubicin hydrochloride, and cyclophosphamide (TAC) regimens with or without trastuzumab (Herceptin®) for 4 months; docetaxel and cyclophosphamide (TC) with or without trastuzumab for 3 months; doxorubicin hydrochloride and cyclophosphamide (AC) for 3 months; or doxorubicin hydrochloride, carboplatin, and trastuzumab (TCH) for 4 months (trastuzumab may be given for 1 year and is not considered chemotherapy for the purpose of this study)
• * Planned treatment with adjuvant aromatase inhibitors (AI) for 5 years
• * Group B
• * Stage I or II invasive disease
• * Planned treatment with adjuvant AI with or without radiotherapy
• * Group C
• * Stage I, II, or III disease
• * Hormone-receptor negative
• * Planned adjuvant chemotherapy as in group A
• * No treatment with AI planned
• * Group D
• * Healthy controls free of any major medical or psychiatric disorders
• * Not taking prescription medications, including hormone-replacement therapy, or other substances that might influence performance on neuropsychological tests
• * Balanced with the patient groups on age, education, ethnicity, and sociodemographic background
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• No history of psychiatric illness other than minor depression
• No history of psychiatric illness other than minor depression in immediate family members
• No history of neurologic disease
• No history of drug or alcohol abuse
• No significant medical illness other than breast cancer
• No heart pacemaker or metallic implants or particles in the body
• No heart rhythm disturbance
• No claustrophobia
• No prior serious head injury
• No tattoos or permanent cosmetics
• No unremovable body jewelry
• No cognitive impairment
• Able to read and speak English
• No condition that compromises compliance with the objectives and procedures of this study, as judged by the principal investigator
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior chemotherapy, CNS radiotherapy, or intrathecal therapy
• Premenopausal women receiving aromatase inhibitors must also be receiving ovarian suppression
• No concurrent narcotics or major antipsychotic medications that may impair cognition