OBJECTIVES: I. Compare the recurrence rates and overall survival of patients treated with postoperative adjuvant methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cisplatin (M-VAC) to those treated with combination paclitaxel and carboplatin for muscle invasive bladder cancer at particularly high risk of relapse. II. Compare the relative toxicities of postoperative M-VAC versus those encountered with postoperative paclitaxel and carboplatin. III. Compare the quality of life scores during and following completion of treatment of patients in these two treatment arms.