PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Under 60 Sex: Women only Menopausal status: Not specified Performance status: WHO 0-2 Life expectancy: Greater than 3 months Hematopoietic: ANC at least 2,000 Platelets at least 100,000 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL (35 micromoles/L) Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.3 mg/dL (130 micromoles/L) Cardiovascular: No congestive heart failure, even if stable No coronary artery disease No myocardial infarction within 6 months Ventricular ejection fraction (resting) normal by isotopic scan or echocardiogram No evidence of cardiac disease on EKG Other: No active infection No second malignancy except: In situ cervical carcinoma Basal cell skin carcinoma No pregnant women No psychological, familial, social, or geographical contraindication to regular follow-up