Temozolomide, Thalidomide, and Lomustine in Treating Patients With Unresectable Stage III or Stage IV Melanoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed metastatic malignant melanoma * Unresectable stage III OR stage IV disease * Ocular, mucosal, and cutaneous melanoma allowed * Measurable disease * Indicator lesions within a prior radiotherapy field must have recent evidence of disease progression * Indicator lesions must be distinct from the surgical and/or radiation changes induced by prior local therapies * No more than 2 symptomatic hemorrhagic lesions in the brain * No hemorrhagic lesion(s) greater than 1 cm in diameter PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * Karnofsky 80-100% Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic * Bilirubin no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * SGOT and SGPT no greater than 2 times ULN * Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2 times ULN * Lactic dehydrogenase no greater than 2 times ULN Renal * Creatinine no greater than 2 mg/dL Cardiovascular * No history of severe cardiovascular disease * No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * No unstable angina * No New York Heart Association class III or IV congestive heart failure * No ventricular arrhythmia * No uncontrolled arrhythmia Gastrointestinal * No frequent vomiting * No other medical condition that would preclude oral medication intake (e.g., partial bowel obstruction) Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception during and for 4 weeks after study participation * HIV negative * No AIDS-related illness * No serious infection requiring IV antibiotics * No other uncontrolled medical illness that would preclude study participation * No other malignancy within the past 2 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or T1a or b prostate cancer meeting all of the following criteria: * Detected incidentally at transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) * Comprises less than 5% of resected tissue * Prostate-specific antigen normal since TURP PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * At least 3 weeks since prior immunotherapy or biologic therapy * No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy * No prior systemic chemotherapy for melanoma * No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy * Not specified Radiotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * At least 3 weeks since prior focused radiotherapy for brain metastases * At least 3 weeks since prior radiosurgery * At least 4 weeks since prior whole brain radiotherapy * At least 3 weeks since prior interstitial brachytherapy * No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery * See Disease Characteristics * At least 3 weeks since prior surgery for brain metastases * At least 3 weeks since prior surgery requiring general anesthesia Other * Recovered from all prior therapies