Thalidomide in Treating Patients With Asymptomatic, Indolent Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma or Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed indolent lymphoma or leukemia of one of the following subtypes: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia Follicular center lymphoma (grade I or II) Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma Marginal zone lymphoma (nodal, extranodal, or splenic) Small lymphocytic lymphoma Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia Any stage of disease allowed No hairy cell leukemia No T-cell lymphomas No prior treatment for lymphoma/leukemia Considered appropriate for expectant management Must not require cytotoxic therapy PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age 18 and over Performance status ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy Not specified Hematopoietic Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3 Hemoglobin greater than 10.0 g/dL Platelet count greater than 75,000/mm^3 Hepatic Bilirubin no greater than 2 times normal AST and ALT no greater than 2 times normal Renal Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Cardiovascular No uncontrolled congestive heart failure No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease No unstable coronary artery disease No myocardial infarction in the past 6 months No serious or uncontrolled arrhythmias No history of thromboembolic disease Pulmonary No asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease requiring the use of home oxygen or frequent oral steroids (prednisone greater than 20 mg per day for 5 days within the past 3 months) Other HIV negative Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Not planning to become pregnant in the next 2 years Fertile female patients must use 1 highly effective method and 1 additional effective method of contraception for 1 month prior to, during, and for 1 month after study participation Male patients must use effective barrier contraception during and for 1 month after study participation Willing and able to participate in the S.T.E.P.S. (System for Thalidomide Education and Prescribing Safety) program No contraindications to meeting the requirements of the S.T.E.P.S. program No other prior malignancy except curatively treated non-melanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix No peripheral neuropathy No poorly controlled diabetes defined by either of the following: Glycosylated hemoglobin greater than 8.0 g/dL Known end organ disease (i.e., nephropathy, retinopathy, or neuropathy) No other concurrent illness that would preclude study therapy PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy Not specified Chemotherapy See Disease Characteristics Endocrine therapy Not specified Radiotherapy Not specified Surgery Not specified