Combination Chemotherapy After Surgery With or Without Chinese Herbal Therapy to Treat Symptoms in Women With Breast Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed stage I, II, or early stage III breast cancer for which adjuvant doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide is recommended No metastatic disease Hormone receptor status: Not specified PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Over 18 Sex: Female Menopausal status: Not specified Performance status: Karnofsky 80-100% Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,000/mm^3 Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3 Hemoglobin at least 9.0 g/dL Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL AST no greater than 2 times normal Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No evidence of acute ischemic cardiac disease on ECG Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No history of multiple severe food or medicine allergies or sensitivities No medical or psychological condition that would preclude study participation No severe concurrent illness PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: No concurrent hormonal therapy Radiotherapy: At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: Not specified Other: At least 3 weeks since prior investigational agents At least 3 weeks since prior herbal therapy No other concurrent investigational agents No other concurrent herbal therapy or alternative medicine Concurrent acupuncture allowed