OBJECTIVES: I. Compare overall survival and local and systemic disease-free survival produced by adjuvant chemoendocrine therapy with 4 courses of anthracycline/cyclophosphamide and concurrent vs. sequential tamoxifen (TMX) or toremifene (TOR) in peri- and postmenopausal women with node-positive breast cancer who are considered suitable for endocrine therapy alone. II. Evaluate these same endpoints in patients randomized to chemoendocrine therapy vs. endocrine therapy alone. III. Evaluate these same endpoints in patients randomized to TMX vs. TOR as the endocrine therapy agent. IV. Compare the quality of life of patients treated on these regimens. V. Compare the toxic effects of these regimens.