DHEA in Treating Women Undergoing Surgery for Stage I, Stage II, or Stage III Breast Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed invasive adenocarcinoma of the breast * Stage I (T1c), II, or III disease (AJCC staging system) * Lesion ≥ 1 cm on breast imaging studies (mammogram, ultrasound, or MRI) * HER2/neu-negative tumor * Planning to receive dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) prior to surgery * Disease amenable to surgery with curative intent * Scheduled to undergo surgery immediately after completion of DHEA * No locally advanced or metastatic disease not amenable to surgery * Hormone receptor status: * Estrogen receptor- and progesterone receptor-negative tumor * Androgen receptor-positive tumor PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * Menopausal status not specified * ECOG performance status (PS) 0-2 OR Karnofsky PS 60-100% * ANC ≥ 1,000/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 75,000/mm\^3 * AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN * Bilirubin ≤ 2 times ULN * Hemoglobin \> 9 g/dL * Creatinine normal OR creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for ≥ 1 week after completion of study therapy * No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to DHEA or anastrozole * No concurrent uncontrolled illness, including but not limited to, any of the following: * Ongoing or active infection * Symptomatic congestive heart failure * Unstable angina pectoris * Cardiac arrhythmia * Psychiatric illness or social situation that would limit compliance with study requirements PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * See Disease Characteristics * More than 5 years since prior surgery, radiotherapy, biological therapy, hormone therapy, and/or chemotherapy for invasive breast cancer * No other concurrent antineoplastic or antitumor agents * No other concurrent investigational agents