RATIONALE: Studying samples of blood and breast tissue from healthy women in the laboratory may help doctors learn more about changes that occur in DNA and identify biomarkers related to breast cancer risk. PURPOSE: This research study is looking at breast tissue in women not previously diagnosed with breast cancer who are undergoing fine-needle aspiration.
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DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Women meeting one of the following requirements: * Regularly cycling premenopausal women under 45 years of age * Perimenopausal women 45-55 years of age who have had ≥ two periods in the past 6 months * Postmenopausal women under 60 years of age (no menstrual period for 12 months and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels \> 25 IU/dL) * No history of breast cancer diagnosis or prior treatment for breast cancer * Negative breast evaluation within the past 3 months PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * See Disease Characteristics PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * No concurrent oral contraceptives * At least 2 weeks since prior aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and vitamin E