Caloric Restriction in Treating Patients With Stage 0-I Breast Cancer Undergoing Surgery and Radiation Therapy

Inclusion Criteria:

Pathologically proven diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or invasive breast cancer
Ability to have breast conservation as determined by the judgment of the radiation oncologist, for which the radiation oncologist has determined that he or she will only treat the whole breast and not regional lymph nodes
The patient must be female
Age >= 18
If multifocal breast cancer, then it must be able to be resected through a single lumpectomy incision

Appropriate stage for protocol entry, including no clinical evidence for distant metastases, based upon the following minimum diagnostic workup:

History/physical examination, including breast exam and documentation of weight and Karnofsky performance status of 80-100% for at least 60 days prior to study entry
Ipsilateral mammogram within 6 months prior to study entry
Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 14 days of study entry
Women of childbearing potential must be non-pregnant and non-lactating and willing to use medically acceptable form of contraception during radiation therapy
Patient must capable of and provide study specific informed consent prior to study entry
Body mass index (BMI) >= 21
Weight >= 100 lbs
No prior history of non-breast malignancies in the past 2 years unless it was a non-melanomatous skin lesion or carcinoma in situ of the cervix

Patient must not have any of the following severe, active co-morbidity, defined as follows:

Unstable angina and/or congestive heart failure requiring hospitalization within the last 6 months
Transmural myocardial infarction within the last 6 months
Acute bacterial or fungal infection requiring intravenous antibiotics at the time of registration
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation or other respiratory illness requiring hospitalization or precluding study therapy within 30 days before registration
Hepatic insufficiency resulting in clinical jaundice and/or coagulation defects; note, however, that laboratory tests for liver function and coagulation parameters are not required for entry into this protocol
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive based upon current Centers for Disease and Control (CDC) definition; note, however, that HIV testing is not required for entry into this protocol; the need to exclude patients with AIDS or HIV from this protocol is necessary because anti-retrovirals may alter patient metabolism
Patient must not have active systemic lupus, erythematosus, or any history of scleroderma, dermatomyositis with active rash
No prior radiotherapy to the ipsilateral breast or prior radiation to the region of the breast that would result in overlap of radiation therapy fields

Patient may not have any active gastrointestinal/malabsorption disorder at the discretion of the Principal Investigator

Inflammatory bowel disease
Celiac disease
Chronic pancreatitis
Chronic diarrhea or vomiting
Active eating disorder
Creatinine < 1.7
Not currently taking steroids
No currently active pituitary secreting tumors up to physician discretion
No history of or current active drug/alcohol dependence
No patients being decisionally impaired

Exclusion Criteria:

Patient is not a candidate for breast conservation
Patient is male
Age < 18 years
Patient requires regional lymph node irradiation therapy
Patient has evidence of distant metastases
Karnofsky performance status less than 80% within 60 days prior to study
Ipsilateral mammogram done greater than 6 months prior to study
Women of childbearing potential with a positive serum beta human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
Patient has a history of dementia, psychosis or other disorder affecting their mental status to the point where they cannot consent or comply with study guidelines
BMI < 21
Weight < 100 lbs
Weight loss >= 10% in the last 3 months (mos)
Prior invasive non-breast malignancy (except non-melanomatous skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix) unless disease free for a minimum of 2 years prior to registration
Two or more breast cancers not resectable through a single lumpectomy incision
Non-epithelial breast malignancies such as sarcoma or lymphoma
Prior radiotherapy to the ipsilateral breast or prior radiation to the region of the breast that would result in overlap of radiation therapy fields

Severe, active co-morbidity, defined as follows:

Unstable angina and/or congestive heart failure requiring hospitalization within the last 6 months
Transmural myocardial infarction within the last 6 months
Acute bacterial or fungal infection requiring intravenous antibiotics at the time of registration
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation or other respiratory illness requiring hospitalization or precluding study therapy within 30 days before registration
Hepatic insufficiency resulting in clinical jaundice and/or coagulation defects; note, however, that laboratory tests for liver function and coagulation parameters are not required for entry into this protocol
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or HIV positive based upon current CDC definition; note, however, that HIV testing is not required for entry into this protocol; the need to exclude patients with AIDS or HIV from this protocol is necessary because anti-retrovirals may alter patient metabolism
Active systemic lupus, erythematosus, or any history of scleroderma, dermatomyositis with active rash

Active gastrointestinal/malabsorption disorder at the discretion of the Principal Investigator

Inflammatory bowel disease
Celiac disease
Chronic pancreatitis
Chronic diarrhea or vomiting
Active eating disorder
Creatinine >= 1.7
Current use of steroids
Pituitary secreting tumors up to physician discretion
Active drug/alcohol dependence or abuse history
Decisionally impaired patients