The purpose of this study is to learn about the effects of stress on hormones, the relationship between these hormones and cancer progression.

The purpose of this study is to investigate stress and tonic activation of diurnal cortisol in aging metastatic breast cancer patients; feedback inhibition & activation of cortisol; and stress-induced phasic activation of cortisol.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Diagnosis of recurrent or metastatic breast cancer.
2. Karnofsky of 70% or greater.
3. Proficient enough in English to be able to take questionnaires and participate in the required tasks.
4. Living within the Greater Bay Area.
5. Age 35 or older .

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Positive supraclavicular lymph nodes as the only metastatic lesion at the time of initial diagnosis.
2. Active cancers within the past 10 years other than breast cancer, basal cell or squamous cell carcinomas of the skin, or in situ cancer of the cervix.
3. Any other serious medical condition that will effect short term survival
4. History of major psychiatric illness for which patient was hospitalized or medicated, with the exception of depression or anxiety
5. A diagnosis of diabetes.

patients with recurrent or metastatic breast cancer