DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven primary, locally advanced (at least 10 axillary lymph node metastases or T4 or N2, M0 disease), or stage IV breast cancer Patients with at least 10 axillary node metastases and no distant metastases receive adjuvant chemotherapy with a doxorubicin containing regimen Patients with T4 or N2, M0 disease and no prior chemotherapy receive neoadjuvant or induction chemotherapy prior to salvage mastectomy (patients must show partial remission based on tumor palpation) Patients with stage IV breast cancer receive induction chemotherapy with doxorubicin (unless relapsed less than 1 year following therapy or metastatic disease progression observed or greater than 300 mg/m2 previously taken, then may receive induction chemotherapy with paclitaxel regimen) Stage IV cancer patients must have at least a partial remission following induction chemotherapy Stage IV cancer patients should have minimal metastatic disease (chest wall recurrence or bone only); patients with more extensive and/or visceral metastases must have near complete remission following induction chemotherapy