Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy With or Without Epoetin Alfa in Treating Patients With Stage IIIA or Stage IIIB Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy 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. Epoetin alfa may stimulate red blood cell production and prevent or treat anemia in patients who are undergoing radiation therapy and chemotherapy. It is not yet known if chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy is more effective with or without epoetin alfa in treating non-small cell lung cancer. PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to determine the effectiveness of chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy with or without epoetin alfa in treating patients who have stage IIIA or stage IIIB non-small cell lung cancer.