PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Not specified Sex: Female Menopausal status: Pre- or perimenopausal, i.e., meeting at least 1 of the following criteria: Normal menstruation Amenorrhea for less than 1 year (up to 3 years in patients under age 52) Biochemical evidence of ovarian function Hysterectomy without bilateral oophorectomy in patients under age 56 Premenopausal women no greater than age 50 who were started on replacement hormone therapy before amenorrhea are eligible Performance status: ECOG 0-2 prior to chemotherapy Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,000/mm3 Polymorphs and bands at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: (unless abdominal ultrasound indicates liver metastasis) Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2 times normal AST and/or ALT no greater than 2 times normal Renal: Not specified Other: No history of serious underlying medical illness or psychiatric or addictive disorder No second malignancy within 5 years except: Curatively treated nonmelanomatous skin cancer Curatively treated endometrium, colon, or thyroid cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix No plan for pregnancy during the 5-year study period Fertile women must use effective contraception (other than oral contraception) Accessible for treatment and follow-up