DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Moderate or high density breast tissue on mammogram within the past 4 months

  • Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System (BIRAD) class 2-4 or digitized mammogram with ≥ 25% density
• No history of breast cancer, including ductal carcinoma in situ or lobular carcinoma in situ
• Healthy without serious comorbidities

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Female
• Postmenopausal
• No history of illness for which NSAIDs are typically primary therapy (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis)
• No allergy to NSAIDs
• No anemia (hematocrit < 35%), abnormal bleeding tests, or bleeding disorders
• No gastrointestinal (GI) ulcer or history of GI bleeding
• No adverse reactions to aspirin acid or other NSAIDs
• No renal disease
• No asthma
• No current or chronic liver disease
• No history of hemorrhagic stroke or transient ischemic attack

• No history of coronary artery disease, including any of the following:

  • Myocardial infarction (MI)
  • Angina
  • Coronary artery disease documented on cardiac catheterization, exercise thallium, or exercise echocardiogram
• No strong family history of coronary artery disease (i.e., mother with MI before 55 years of age, father with MI before 45 years of age)
• No documented carotid artery disease
• No diabetes
• No uncontrolled hypertension
• No planned extensive weight loss in the next 6 months (≥ 10 pounds)
• Less than 2 alcoholic drinks daily
• No mental illness or alcohol or drug abuse

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• More than 3 weeks since prior and no other concurrent use (2 or more times per week) of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), ibuprofen, or other NSAIDs
• No prior angioplasty or coronary artery bypass grafting
• No prior breast implantation or reduction surgery
• More than 6 months since prior hormones for menopause (including pills, patches, vaginal route), tamoxifen citrate, raloxifene, other hormonal therapy, or herbal or soy preparations
• No concurrent anticoagulation medication