RATIONALE: Chemoprevention is the use of certain drugs or supplements to keep cancer from forming, growing, or coming back. The use of omega-3 fatty acids may prevent breast cancer. PURPOSE: This randomized clinical trial is studying how well omega-3 fatty acids work in preventing breast cancer in women at high risk of developing breast cancer.
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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