Combination Chemotherapy Compared With Observation After Surgery in Treating Women With Relapsed Nonmetastatic Breast Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the breast No contralateral breast cancer Local tumor recurrence more than 6 months after conservative surgery Complete or conservative resection of the recurrent tumor NOTE: Initial complete surgical resection not allowed No local inflammatory disease or disease that is not amenable to complete surgical resection No positive axillary lymph nodes No distant metastases, including subclavicular lymph nodes Hormone receptor status: Hormone receptor status known PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age 18 to 65 Sex Female Menopausal status Menopausal status known Performance status ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy Not specified Hematopoietic Neutrophil count at least 2,000/mm^3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3 Hepatic Bilirubin no greater than upper limit of normal (ULN) Transaminases no greater than 1.5 times ULN Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN No chronic hepatitis B No active hepatitis C Renal Not specified Cardiovascular Cardiac function normal by echocardiogram or isotopes Other No contraindications to anthracyclines such as any of the following: Prior doxorubicin over 300 mg/m^2 Prior epirubicin over 600 mg/m^2 Prior mitoxantrone over 90 mg/m^2 No other invasive malignancy No chronic somatic or psychiatric condition that would preclude study participation No familial, social, geographic, or psychological reason that would preclude study participation Not pregnant Fertile patients must use effective contraception HIV negative CA 153 no greater than 2 times ULN PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy Not specified Chemotherapy See Patient Characteristics-Other No prior neoadjuvant chemotherapy Endocrine therapy No prior neoadjuvant hormonal therapy Radiotherapy No prior neoadjuvant radiotherapy Surgery See Disease Characteristics At least 41 days since prior surgery