OBJECTIVES: I. Compare the progression free survival of chemotherapy naive patients with stage IC-IV ovarian epithelial cancer following initial surgery treated with paclitaxel and carboplatin versus docetaxel and carboplatin. II. Compare the toxic effects of these regimens in these patients. III. Determine the overall survival, overall response rate, and CA125 response in these patients after these regimens. IV. Determine the quality of life of these patients on these regimens.