Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Women With Stage I, Stage II, or Stage IIIA (cT1-3, N0-1, M0) Breast Cancer and Positive Axillary Lymph Nodes

Inclusion criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed invasive adenocarcinoma of the breast * Confined to the breast and ipsilateral axilla on clinical exam * Stage I, II, or IIIA (cT1-3, N0-1, M0) * At least one axillary lymph node with evidence of tumor on histologic exam * Sentinel node biopsy allowed if followed by axillary dissection * No suspicious palpable nodes in the contralateral axilla or palpable supraclavicular or infraclavicular nodes, unless proven on biopsy to not be involved with tumor * No bilateral malignancy or mass in the opposite breast, unless mass is histologically proven to be benign * Must have undergone either a prior total mastectomy and axillary dissection (modified radical mastectomy) OR * Prior lumpectomy and axillary dissection * Patients must receive radiotherapy after randomization (not before) AND after chemotherapy * Margins must be clear * No ipsilateral lymph nodes that are fixed to one another or to other structures (N2 disease) and/or any positive nonaxillary lymph nodes (intramammary nodes are considered axillary nodes) * No histologically evident invasive tumor or ductal carcinoma in situ * No diffuse tumors by mammography that would not be surgically amenable to lumpectomy * No other dominant mass in the ipsilateral breast remnant unless one of the following is true: * Histologically benign * Surgically removed with clear margins if malignant * No ulceration, erythema, infiltration of the skin or underlying chest wall (complete fixation), peau d'orange, or skin edema of any magnitude * Tethering or dimpling of the skin or nipple inversion allowed * No metastatic disease * Skeletal pain allowed if bone scan negative for metastases * Hormone receptor status: * Estrogen and progesterone status determined PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * greater than or equal to 18 years Sex: * Female Menopausal status: * Not specified Performance status: * Not specified Life expectancy: * At least 10 years, excluding diagnosis of cancer Hematopoietic: * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 (may be less, if in the opinion of the investigator, this represents an ethnic or racial variation) * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3\* NOTE: \*If platelet count is above the upper limit of normal (ULN), significant underlying hematologic disorders must be excluded Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than ULN * Alkaline phosphatase less than 2.5 times ULN\* * SGOT less than 1.5 times ULN\* * No nonmalignant systemic hepatic disease that would preclude study participation NOTE: \*Alkaline phosphatase and SGOT cannot both be greater than ULN Renal: * Creatinine no greater than normal * No nonmalignant systemic renal disease that would preclude study participation Cardiovascular: * No nonmalignant systemic cardiovascular disease that would preclude study participation * LVEF at least lower limit of normal (LLN) by MUGA or echocardiogram * No active cardiac disease that would preclude use of doxorubicin or docetaxel, including the following: * Any prior myocardial infarction * Angina pectoris requiring anti-anginal medication * History of congestive heart failure * Cardiac arrhythmia requiring medication * Severe conduction abnormality * Valvular disease with documented cardiac function compromise * Cardiomegaly on chest x-ray or ventricular hypertrophy on EKG, unless LVEF at least LLN * Poorly controlled hypertension (diastolic greater than 100 mm/Hg) * Hypertension well controlled by medication allowed Other: * No grade 2 or greater peripheral neuropathy * No other prior malignancy within the past 5 years except: * Effectively treated squamous cell or basal cell skin cancer * Surgically treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix * Segmentally resected lobular carcinoma in situ of the ipsilateral or contralateral breast * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception * No nonmalignant systemic disease that would preclude study participation * No diabetes with morning fasting blood glucose of 200 mg/dL or greater * No psychiatric or addictive disorders that would preclude informed consent * No contraindication to corticosteroids that would preclude study participation PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * No prior immunotherapy for breast cancer Chemotherapy: * No prior chemotherapy for breast cancer * No prior anthracyclines or taxanes * No other concurrent investigational chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: * No prior hormonal therapy for breast cancer * No concurrent hormonal birth control methods or other hormonal therapy * No concurrent raloxifene, including for osteoporosis * Concurrent low-dose topical estrogen in the form of conjugated estrogen ring or conjugated estrogen vaginal cream (dose no more than 0.3 mg or 1/8 of an applicator applied vaginally 3 times a week) allowed Radiotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics * No prior radiotherapy for this malignancy Surgery: * See Disease Characteristics * No more than 84 days since prior surgery for breast cancer (e.g., lumpectomy, mastectomy, sentinel node biopsy, axillary dissection, or re-excision of lumpectomy margins) Other: * No prior systemic therapy for this malignancy * No concurrent medications that alter cardiac conduction (e.g., digitalis, beta blockers, or calcium-channel blockers) for cardiac arrhythmia, angina, or congestive heart failure (allowed if administered for other reasons \[e.g., hypertension\]) * Concurrent bisphosphonates allowed