DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically confirmed carcinoma of the breast Locally advanced or inflammatory disease (T4, any N or any T, N2 or N3 or T4d) OR Large operable disease (large T2 or T3 for which tumor shrinkage is needed) No distant metastasis on chest x-ray, liver ultrasound, or bone scan except for ipsilateral supraclavicular nodes No abnormal bone scintigrams that cannot be confirmed as benign Hormone Receptor Status Not specified