Radiation Therapy and Cisplatin With or Without Amifostine for Patients With Stage IIIB or IVA Cervical Cancer

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as cisplatin, use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Combining radiation therapy with chemotherapy may kill more tumor cells. Drugs such as amifostine may protect normal cells from the side effects of radiation therapy. PURPOSE: Phase I/II trial to study the effectiveness of combining cisplatin and radiation therapy with or without amifostine in treating patients who have stage IIIB or stage IVA cancer of the cervix.