PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 70 and under Sex: Female Menopausal status: Not specified Performance status: ECOG 0 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,000/mm3 Absolute neutrophil count at least 2,000/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma glutamyltransferase no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal Renal: Not specified Cardiovascular: No heart disease that precludes use of anthracyclines (i.e., myocardial infarction, uncontrolled angina pectoris, uncontrolled arrhythmias, or valve disease) Other: No concurrent pathology that precludes use of antineoplastic drugs No mental retardation or psychiatric disease that precludes study No other current or prior malignancy within the past 10 years except squamous or basal cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception