DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed stage I, II, or early stage III breast cancer for which adjuvant doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide is recommended
• No metastatic disease

• Hormone receptor status:

  • Not specified

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• Over 18

Sex:

• Female

Menopausal status:

• Not specified

Performance status:

• Karnofsky 80-100%

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• WBC at least 3,000/mm^3
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3
• Hemoglobin at least 9.0 g/dL
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
• AST no greater than 2 times normal

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL

Cardiovascular:

• No evidence of acute ischemic cardiac disease on ECG

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No history of multiple severe food or medicine allergies or sensitivities
• No medical or psychological condition that would preclude study participation
• No severe concurrent illness

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• No concurrent immunotherapy

Chemotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

• No concurrent hormonal therapy

Radiotherapy:

• At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

• Not specified

Other:

• At least 3 weeks since prior investigational agents
• At least 3 weeks since prior herbal therapy
• No other concurrent investigational agents
• No other concurrent herbal therapy or alternative medicine
• Concurrent acupuncture allowed