Heavy Metal Exposure in Predicting Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients With Stage I-III Breast Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To describe the correlation, if any, of specific heavy metals with high grade symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, defined as grade \>= 3 peripheral neuropathy, (utilizing the Common Terminology Criterial for Adverse Events \[CTCAE\] version \[v.\] 4.0) in a cohort of breast cancer patients undergoing (neo)adjuvant taxane chemotherapy. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To characterize the range of specific heavy metals in a cohort of breast cancer patients undergoing (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy treatment. II. To evaluate the reproducibility of sera and urine testing of heavy metal levels by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) testing in a cohort of breast cancer patients undergoing (neo)adjuvant taxane chemotherapy. OUTLINE: Patients undergo serum and urine sample collection for heavy metal analysis by ICP-MS at baseline and at the completion of treatment. Patients also complete neurotoxicity assessment questionnaire at baseline and at the completion of treatment.