Raloxifene in Preventing Breast Cancer in Premenopausal Women

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * At risk for developing invasive breast cancer by virtue of 1 of the following criteria: * Gail model risk equal to that of an average 60 year old woman as determined using the Gail risk assessment model * Lobular neoplasia * Atypical ductal hyperplasia with a positive family history of breast cancer * Ductal carcinoma in situ previously treated with mastectomy or lumpectomy and radiation * BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation-positive genotyping * Family history consistent with hereditary cancer syndrome of increased breast cancer risk defined as 1 of the following: * Family with more than 2 breast cancer cases and one or more cases of ovarian cancer diagnosed at any age * Family with more than 3 breast cancer cases diagnosed before age 50 * Sister pairs with 2 breast cancers, 2 ovarian cancers, or 1 breast and 1 ovarian cancer diagnosed before age 50 * Premenopausal * Menstrual cycle of 26-35 days * No change in menstrual pattern within the past 6 months (no irregularities) * FSH level less than 20 mIU/mL * Hormone receptor status: * Not specified PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 23 to 47 Sex * Female Menopausal status * Premenopausal Performance status * Not specified Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * No history of bleeding disorder Hepatic * No history of cirrhosis of the liver * SGOT/SGPT no greater than 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Renal * Creatinine no greater than 1.7 mg/dL Cardiovascular * No history of pulmonary embolism or deep venous thrombosis Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile participants must use effective non-hormonal contraception (e.g. barrier methods, spermicides, or surgical methods) during and for 3 months after study * No history of infertility with a suspected ovarian etiology or recurrent ovarian cysts * No allergy to raloxifene * No dysfunctional uterine bleeding * No menorrhagia * No cervical dysplasia or significant uterine pathology requiring concurrent surgery * No medical or psychiatric disorder that would preclude study participation * Normal CA 125 levels PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * Not specified Chemotherapy * Not specified Endocrine therapy * At least 6 months since prior steroid therapy (e.g., tamoxifen, estrogen, DHEA, anabolic steroids, or oral contraceptives) Radiotherapy * See Disease Characteristics Surgery * See Disease Characteristics * No prior hysterectomy