S0308 Zoledronate or Ibandronate in Preventing Bone Problems in Women With Stage IV Breast Cancer That Has Spread to the Bone

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed stage IV breast cancer at primary diagnosis or at recurrence * Any T, any N, M1 * At least 1 dominant osteolytic or osteoblastic or mixed metastatic lesion outside any prior radiation field * Lesion measures ≥ 1.0 cm by x-ray, CT scan, and/or MRI * Controlled asymptomatic brain metastases allowed * Controlled bone pain, defined as a physician/health care provider rating of ≤ grade 2 pain-SELECT (Bone) on the NCI CTC for Adverse Events Version 3.0 rating scale, required * Current evidence of vertebral or nonvertebral fractures or spinal compression due to cancer, as determined by the treating physician, allowed * No Paget's disease of the bone * Estrogen receptor (ER) or progesterone receptor (PR) status known PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * Female patient * Menopausal status not specified * Zubrod performance status 0-2 * Creatinine normal * Creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min * Serum calcium \< 12 mg/dL * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * Must be able to receive IV medication and oral medication (i.e., must have physical integrity of the upper gastrointestinal tract) * No malabsorption syndrome * No primary hyperparathyroidism * No known history of aspirin-sensitive asthma * No other prior malignancy except for the following: * Adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer * In situ cervical cancer * Adequately treated stage I or II cancer currently in complete remission * Any other cancer for which the patient has been disease-free for at least 5 years * No uncontrolled medical illness or infection, including, but not limited to, the following: * Unstable angina * Recent myocardial infarction * Life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * See Disease Characteristics * No prior bisphosphonates for metastatic bone disease * More than 28 days since prior aminoglycoside antibiotics * At least 28 days since prior oral bisphosphonates for osteoporosis * More than 6 months since prior bisphosphonates used for adjuvant therapy * Concurrent treatment, including chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and/or biologic therapy for metastatic breast cancer allowed * No concurrent participation in another clinical treatment trial for this cancer unless the patient is no longer receiving the intervention and is in the follow-up phase of the other clinical trial