DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed operable stage IIA, IIB, or IIIA adenocarcinoma of the breast with histologically involved lymph nodes (T1, 2, or 3; N1 or 2; M0) OR high-risk node-negative disease (T2 or 3; N0)

  • Primary tumor at least 2.1 cm in diameter for node-negative disease
  • Bilateral breast disease allowed if at least 1 primary tumor meets the criteria above
• Must have had at least 6 axillary lymph nodes removed at dissection and at least one node positive for metastasis OR

• Sentinel node biopsy negative for metastasis (sentinel node biopsy positive allowed if enrolled on American College of Surgery Trial Z0011 and have beenrandomized to receive no axillary dissection)

  • Additional axillary nodes may be obtained provided they are also negative for metastasis

• Complete tumor removal by either a modified radical mastectomy or local excision plus axillary lymph node dissection (i.e., breast conservation therapy) or sentinel node biopsy

  • Tumor-free margins at least 1 mm for both invasive and noninvasive carcinoma except for lobular carcinoma in situ (less than 1 mm allowed)
• Concurrent enrollment on American College of Surgery Trial Z0010, Z0011, or NSABP B-32 allowed

• Hormone receptor status:

  • Estrogen receptor status positive, negative, or unknown

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Sex:

• Female

Menopausal status:

• Not specified

Performance status:

• Not specified

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• Neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
• SGOT no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL

Cardiovascular:

• No history of myocardial infarction
• No congestive heart failure
• No significant ischemic or valvular heart disease

Other:

• No other prior invasive malignancies within the past 5 years except curatively treated basal or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• No hypersensitivity to paclitaxel or docetaxel or other similarly formulated drugs (with Cremophor or polysorbate)
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• Not specified

Chemotherapy:

• No prior chemotherapy for breast cancer

Endocrine therapy:

• Prior tamoxifen of no more than 4 weeks duration for breast cancer allowed
• Prior tamoxifen or other selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) for chemoprevention (e.g., Breast Cancer Prevention Trial) or for other indications (e.g., osteoporosis) allowed
• No concurrent tamoxifen or other SERMs

Radiotherapy:

• No prior radiotherapy for this malignancy
• At least 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy to the breast for ductal carcinoma in situ

Surgery:

• See Disease Characteristics
• Less than 84 days since prior surgical procedure to adequately treat primary tumor