OBJECTIVES: I. Assess the antitumor response, survival, and disease free survival following high dose carboplatin, ifosfamide, and thiotepa with autologous peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) support and consolidation radiotherapy to sites of pretreatment bulk disease in patients with previously treated advanced breast cancer. II. Assess the toxicity of high dose chemotherapy in these patients. III. Compare the effectiveness of PBSC mobilization with high dose cyclophosphamide and filgrastim (G-CSF) vs G-CSF alone in this patient population.