PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Not specified Menopausal status: Not specified Performance status: Karnofsky 70-100% Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Platelet count at least 50,000/mm3 (untransfused) Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,000/mm3 (without filgrastim (G-CSF) support) Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) SGOT no greater than 2.5 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Cardiovascular: LVEF greater than 40% No poorly controlled arrhythmias No prior coronary artery disease No congestive heart failure within last year No myocardial infarction within past 2 years Other: No active infection No grade 3 regimen related toxicity according to Bearman model No allergy to paclitaxel, trastuzumab, or benzyl alcohol No grade 3 peripheral neuropathy with last chemotherapy HIV negative Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception