PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Over 70 Sex: Not specified Menopausal status: Postmenopausal Performance status: WHO 0-2 Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,000 Platelets at least 100,000 Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 1.4 mg/dL (25 micromoles/L) Renal: Creatinine clearance (calculated) greater than 50 mL/min in patients weighing at least 45 kg and measured creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min in patients weighing less than 45 kg Cardiovascular: No congestive heart failure No myocardial infarction within 6 months No severe arrhythmia No complete bundle branch block Other: No active uncontrolled infection No mental disorders that may preclude patient follow-up No second malignancy except: Adequately treated basal cell carcinoma of the skin Adequately treated in situ carcinoma of the cervix