PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: No prior chemotherapy for this malignancy Endocrine therapy: No concurrent tamoxifen Up to 4 weeks of tamoxifen treatment for this malignancy allowed Radiotherapy: No prior radiotherapy for this malignancy Prior radiotherapy to the breast for ductal carcinoma in situ allowed Surgery: Tumor should be removed by either a modified radical mastectomy and/or a segmental mastectomy plus axillary lymph node dissection or sentinel node biopsy before beginning treatment on protocol No greater than 84 days since last surgical procedure that constitutes or completes definitive surgical therapy (mastectomy; axillary dissection/sentinel node biopsy; or resection of primary site to obtain a negative margin