Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Women With Stage I, Stage II, or Stage IIIA (cT1-3, N0-1, M0) Breast Cancer and Positive Axillary Lymph Nodes

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed invasive adenocarcinoma of the breast

  * Confined to the breast and ipsilateral axilla on clinical exam

    * Stage I, II, or IIIA (cT1-3, N0-1, M0)
* At least one axillary lymph node with evidence of tumor on histologic exam

  * Sentinel node biopsy allowed if followed by axillary dissection
  * No suspicious palpable nodes in the contralateral axilla or palpable supraclavicular or infraclavicular nodes, unless proven on biopsy to not be involved with tumor
* No bilateral malignancy or mass in the opposite breast, unless mass is histologically proven to be benign
* Must have undergone either a prior total mastectomy and axillary dissection (modified radical mastectomy) OR
* Prior lumpectomy and axillary dissection

  * Patients must receive radiotherapy after randomization (not before) AND after chemotherapy
  * Margins must be clear
  * No ipsilateral lymph nodes that are fixed to one another or to other structures (N2 disease) and/or any positive nonaxillary lymph nodes (intramammary nodes are considered axillary nodes)
  * No histologically evident invasive tumor or ductal carcinoma in situ
  * No diffuse tumors by mammography that would not be surgically amenable to lumpectomy
  * No other dominant mass in the ipsilateral breast remnant unless one of the following is true:

    * Histologically benign
    * Surgically removed with clear margins if malignant
* No ulceration, erythema, infiltration of the skin or underlying chest wall (complete fixation), peau d'orange, or skin edema of any magnitude

  * Tethering or dimpling of the skin or nipple inversion allowed
* No metastatic disease

  * Skeletal pain allowed if bone scan negative for metastases
* Hormone receptor status:

  * Estrogen and progesterone status determined

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* greater than or equal to 18 years

Sex:

* Female

Menopausal status:

* Not specified

Performance status:

* Not specified

Life expectancy:

* At least 10 years, excluding diagnosis of cancer

Hematopoietic:

* Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 (may be less, if in the opinion of the investigator, this represents an ethnic or racial variation)
* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3\* NOTE: \*If platelet count is above the upper limit of normal (ULN), significant underlying hematologic disorders must be excluded

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin no greater than ULN
* Alkaline phosphatase less than 2.5 times ULN\*
* SGOT less than 1.5 times ULN\*
* No nonmalignant systemic hepatic disease that would preclude study participation NOTE: \*Alkaline phosphatase and SGOT cannot both be greater than ULN

Renal:

* Creatinine no greater than normal
* No nonmalignant systemic renal disease that would preclude study participation

Cardiovascular:

* No nonmalignant systemic cardiovascular disease that would preclude study participation
* LVEF at least lower limit of normal (LLN) by MUGA or echocardiogram
* No active cardiac disease that would preclude use of doxorubicin or docetaxel, including the following:

  * Any prior myocardial infarction
  * Angina pectoris requiring anti-anginal medication
  * History of congestive heart failure
  * Cardiac arrhythmia requiring medication
  * Severe conduction abnormality
  * Valvular disease with documented cardiac function compromise
  * Cardiomegaly on chest x-ray or ventricular hypertrophy on EKG, unless LVEF at least LLN
  * Poorly controlled hypertension (diastolic greater than 100 mm/Hg)
  * Hypertension well controlled by medication allowed

Other:

* No grade 2 or greater peripheral neuropathy
* No other prior malignancy within the past 5 years except:

  * Effectively treated squamous cell or basal cell skin cancer
  * Surgically treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix
  * Segmentally resected lobular carcinoma in situ of the ipsilateral or contralateral breast
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception
* No nonmalignant systemic disease that would preclude study participation
* No diabetes with morning fasting blood glucose of 200 mg/dL or greater
* No psychiatric or addictive disorders that would preclude informed consent
* No contraindication to corticosteroids that would preclude study participation

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* No prior immunotherapy for breast cancer

Chemotherapy:

* No prior chemotherapy for breast cancer
* No prior anthracyclines or taxanes
* No other concurrent investigational chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

* No prior hormonal therapy for breast cancer
* No concurrent hormonal birth control methods or other hormonal therapy
* No concurrent raloxifene, including for osteoporosis
* Concurrent low-dose topical estrogen in the form of conjugated estrogen ring or conjugated estrogen vaginal cream (dose no more than 0.3 mg or 1/8 of an applicator applied vaginally 3 times a week) allowed

Radiotherapy:

* See Disease Characteristics
* No prior radiotherapy for this malignancy

Surgery:

* See Disease Characteristics
* No more than 84 days since prior surgery for breast cancer (e.g., lumpectomy, mastectomy, sentinel node biopsy, axillary dissection, or re-excision of lumpectomy margins)

Other:

* No prior systemic therapy for this malignancy
* No concurrent medications that alter cardiac conduction (e.g., digitalis, beta blockers, or calcium-channel blockers) for cardiac arrhythmia, angina, or congestive heart failure (allowed if administered for other reasons \[e.g., hypertension\])
* Concurrent bisphosphonates allowed