Genetic Susceptibility to Radiation-Induced Skin Reactions in Racial/Ethnic Groups of Patients With Breast Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Female patients newly diagnosed with breast carcinoma including ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) * Stage 0-IIIA disease * Status post-lumpectomy, -quadrantectomy, or -mastectomy * Plan to receive adjuvant radiation to the whole breast or chest wall and/or regional lymph nodes * No sites that cannot send blood/urine specimens to Wake Forest by overnight (next day) express shipping PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * \*This stratum is closed as of April 25, 2012. * No patients who do not understand English and are unable to complete form with assistance PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * Total dose \> 40 Gy, dose per fraction \> 1.8 - 2.0 Gy, use of 2D, 3D-conformal, or intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) treatment techniques allowed; a daily fraction of 2.7 Gy to the whole breast is suggested for hypofractionated regimens * Concurrent and sequential boost techniques are allowed for both standard and hypofractionated regimens * Adjuvant hormonal therapy will be allowed prior to, during, and/or after radiotherapy (RT) at the discretion of a medical oncologist * Targeted therapies, such as Herceptin, will be allowed prior to, during, and/or after RT at the discretion of the medical oncologist * No prior radiation to the involved breast or chest wall * No concurrent chemotherapy * No patients who underwent breast reconstruction following mastectomy * Placement of tissue expanders and implants are not allowed * No patients who have undergone MammoSite®…