DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed primary adenocarcinoma of the breast

* Locally recurrent or metastatic disease
* Must have HER-2-negative breast cancer or, if HER-2-positive, must be unable to receive trastuzumab (Herceptin®) or have previously received trastuzumab in the past
* Measurable disease, defined as at least one lesion that can be accurately measured in at least one dimension (longest diameter to be recorded) as \> 20 mm by conventional techniques or as \> 10 mm by spiral CT scan.
* No known CNS disease
* Hormone receptor status not specified

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Inclusion criteria:

* Postmenopausal status not specified
* ECOG performance status (PS) 0-1 OR Karnofsky PS 70-100%
* Life expectancy \> 12 weeks
* WBC ≥ 3,000/mcL
* Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mcL
* Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mcL
* Total bilirubin normal
* AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN (unless bone metastasis is present in the absence of liver metastasis)
* Creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* No other concurrent malignancies within the past 5 years except basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix

Exclusion criteria:

* Pre-existing neuropathy ≥ grade 1
* Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, any of the following:

* Ongoing or active infection
* Symptomatic congestive heart failure
* Unstable angina pectoris
* Cardiac arrhythmia
* Serious, non-healing wound, ulcer, or bone fracture
* Psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
* Inadequately controlled hypertension (defined as systolic blood pressure \> 150 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure \> 100 mm Hg on antihypertensive medications)
* History of hypertensive crisis or hypertensive encephalopathy
* New York Heart Association class II-IV congestive heart failure
* History of myocardial infarction or unstable angina within the past 6 months
* History of stroke or transient ischemic attack within the past 6 months
* Significant vascular disease (e.g., aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection)
* Symptomatic peripheral vascular disease
* Evidence of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy
* Significant traumatic injury within the past 28 days
* History of abdominal fistula, gastrointestinal perforation, or intra-abdominal abscess within the past 6 months
* Proteinuria, as demonstrated by either urine protein:creatinine ratio ≥ 1.0 OR urine dipstick for proteinuria ≥ 2+

* Patients discovered to have ≥ 2+ proteinuria on dipstick urinalysis at baseline must demonstrate 24-hour urine protein ≤ 1g
* History of allergy or hypersensitivity to paclitaxel albumin-stabilized nanoparticle formulation, paclitaxel, bevacizumab, carboplatin, albumin, drug product excipients, or chemically similar agents

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* See Disease Characteristics
* Recovered from all prior therapy
* No prior chemotherapy for locally recurrent or metastatic disease
* Prior neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy allowed
* More than 1 week since prior core biopsy or other minor surgical procedure, excluding placement of a vascular access device
* More than 4 weeks since prior and no concurrent major surgical procedure or open biopsy
* More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
* More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C)
* At least 1 year since prior taxane regimen
* No other concurrent investigational agents
* Concurrent anticoagulation allowed, provided the following criteria are met:

* Stable dose of warfarin or low molecular weight heparin
* INR within desired range (2-3)
* No evidence of active bleeding or coagulopathy
* No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
* No other concurrent radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or antitumor hormonal therapy