DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed breast cancer with palpable, unilateral, invasive disease Bilateral mammography required within 1 year prior to randomization TNM Stage T1-3, N0-1, M0 disease for which adjuvant chemotherapy is considered an essential part of initial therapy No prior pure in situ carcinoma in either breast No concurrent in situ carcinoma only No Paget's disease of the nipple without underlying invasion No evidence of distant disease, e.g.: No ipsilateral supraclavicular node enlargement unless proven benign Hormone receptor status: Any status