Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage III or Stage IV Larynx or Oropharynx Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed stage III or IV (T2-T4) squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx or oropharynx * No recurrent disease * No evidence of distant metastasis * Resectable disease, defined as follows: * High probability of attaining clear surgical margins (for disease of the base of tongue, tonsil, soft palate, or pharyngeal wall) * No extension to root of tongue (for disease of the base of tongue) * No extension into pterygoid by radiograph (for disease of the tonsil, soft palate, or pharyngeal wall) * No primary tumor or nodal metastases fixed to the carotid artery or cervical spine (for disease of the base of tongue, tonsil, soft palate, or pharyngeal wall) * No trismus (for disease of the tonsil, soft palate, or pharyngeal wall) * No involvement of the trachea greater than 1 cm or any involvement of the esophagus (for disease of the subglottis) * For disease of the supraglottis, glottis, or subglottis: * No base of the tongue invasion greater than 2 cm * No tumor extension through cartilage to involve strap muscles of the neck * No tumor fixation to prevertebral fascia * No involvement of the carotid artery * No fixed nodal disease with involvement of the deep neck * Extension into pyriform sinus or lateral pharyngeal wall allowed if no extension into posterior pharynx * Measurable disease * \- Lesions accurately measured in at least one dimension as \> 20 mm (2.0 cm) with conventional techniques or as \> 10 mm (1.0 cm) with spiral CT scan * Cytologic or histologic evidence of neoplasm is needed for measurable disease restricted to a solitary lesion * No other concurrent head and neck neoplasms PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic * Not specified Renal * Creatinine less than 3.0 mg/dL * Calcium normal Cardiovascular * No significant cardiac disease * No uncontrolled hypertension * No unstable angina * No congestive heart failure * No myocardial infarction within the past year * No serious cardiac arrhythmias requiring medication Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for at least 3 months after study completion * No significant detectable infection * No history of allergy to drugs containing Cremophor EL * No history of allergy to mammalian cell-derived products (epoetin alfa) or human albumin * No other malignancy within the past 3 years except basal or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * Not specified Chemotherapy * No prior chemotherapy * No concurrent amifostine Endocrine therapy * Not specified Radiotherapy * No prior radiotherapy above the clavicles Surgery * No prior surgery to the primary tumor except biopsy or debulking Other * No concurrent experimental mucosal protectants