Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Women With Stage I, Stage II, or Stage IIIA (cT1-3, N0-1, M0) Breast Cancer and Positive Axillary Lymph Nodes

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed invasive adenocarcinoma of the breast * Confined to the breast and ipsilateral axilla on clinical exam * Stage I, II, or IIIA (cT1-3, N0-1, M0) * At least one axillary lymph node with evidence of tumor on histologic exam * Sentinel node biopsy allowed if followed by axillary dissection * No suspicious palpable nodes in the contralateral axilla or palpable supraclavicular or infraclavicular nodes, unless proven on biopsy to not be involved with tumor * No bilateral malignancy or mass in the opposite breast, unless mass is histologically proven to be benign * Must have undergone either a prior total mastectomy and axillary dissection (modified radical mastectomy) OR * Prior lumpectomy and axillary dissection * Patients must receive radiotherapy after randomization (not before) AND after chemotherapy * Margins must be clear * No ipsilateral lymph nodes that are fixed to one another or to other structures (N2 disease) and/or any positive nonaxillary lymph nodes (intramammary nodes are considered axillary nodes) * No histologically evident invasive tumor or ductal carcinoma in situ * No diffuse tumors by mammography that would not be surgically amenable to lumpectomy * No other dominant mass in the ipsilateral breast remnant unless one of the following is true: * Histologically benign * Surgically removed with clear margins if malignant * No ulceration, erythema, infiltration of the skin or und…