Chemotherapy Combined With Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Limited-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically confirmed small cell lung cancer by one of two methods: Fine needle aspiration biopsy Two positive sputa Must have limited disease as defined by all of the following: Stage I-IIIB Confined to 1 hemithorax No T4 tumor based on malignant pleural or pericardial effusion Patients with pleural effusion too small to tap under CT guidance and not evident on chest x-ray are allowed No N3 disease based on contralateral hilar or contralateral supraclavicular involvement Measurable or evaluable disease Tumor must be able to be encompassed by specified radiotherapy fields without unacceptable risk of serious pulmonary compromise No complete tumor resection No pericardial effusion (regardless of cytology) PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age 18 and over Performance status Zubrod 0-1 Life expectancy Not specified Hematopoietic Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count at least 120,000/mm^3 Hepatic Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL No known Gilbert's disease Renal Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Cardiovascular No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months No symptomatic heart disease Pulmonary Forced expiratory volume (FEV)_1 at least 1.0 L/sec No uncontrolled bronchospasms No uncompensated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Other Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No pre-existing peripheral neuropathy grade 2 or greater No other malignancy within the past 2 years except curatively treated basal or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the bladder or cervix No other concurrent serious medical illness PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy No prior biologic therapy Chemotherapy No prior chemotherapy Endocrine therapy Not specified Radiotherapy No prior radiotherapy No concurrent intensity-modulated radiotherapy Surgery See Disease Characteristics Other At least 7 days since prior enzyme-inducing anti-convulsant drugs (EIACDs) (e.g., phenytoin, carbamazepine, or phenobarbital) if used on a regular basis for more than 2 weeks Less than 2 weeks of regular use of EIACDs does not require a 7-day wash-out period At least 14 days since prior Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort) No concurrent EIACDs No concurrent amifostine during chemoradiotherapy Concurrent gabapentin or other non-EIACDs allowed