Docetaxel in Treating Older Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer, including adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma, or combination of these histologies * Stage IIIB (i.e., pleural T4) disease * Stage IV disease * Recurrent disease after prior surgery or radiotherapy allowed provided disease is in an area that was not previously irradiated * Measurable disease by CT scan or MRI * No symptomatic brain metastasis * Activity of Daily Living Scale score ≥ 4 * Instrumental Autonomy of Daily Living Scale score ≥ 4 PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 70 and over Performance status * Not specified Life expectancy * More than 3 months Hematopoietic * Neutrophil count \> 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count \> 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin \> 10 g/dL Hepatic * Transaminases \< 1.5 times normal * Bilirubin normal * Alkaline phosphatase \< 2.5 times normal * Pre-albumin \> 1.5 mg/dL Renal * Creatinine clearance \> 30 mL/min Cardiovascular * No congestive heart failure * No unstable angina pectoris * No myocardial infarction within the past year * No uncontrolled hypertension * No uncontrolled high-risk arrhythmias Gastrointestinal * No active peptic ulcer * No inflammatory bowel disease Neurologic * No history of dementia or seizures that would preclude giving informed consent * No peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2 * No history of significant neurologic disorders Immunologic * No history of hypersensitivity to the study drug or drugs formulated with polysorbate 80 * No active uncontrolled infection Other * No history of psychotic disorders * No uncontrolled diabetes mellitus * No absolute contraindication to corticosteroid use * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except basal cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix * No geriatric depression scale score ≥ 12/15 * No familial, social, geographical, or psychological reason that would preclude study follow up PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * Not specified Chemotherapy * No prior chemotherapy for stage IIIB or IV non-small cell lung cancer * No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy * No concurrent chronic treatment with corticosteroids except low-dose (i.e., methylprednisolone ≤ 20 mg/day or equivalent) treatment that was initiated \> 6 months ago Radiotherapy * See Disease Characteristics Surgery * See Disease Characteristics Other * More than 30 days since prior active participation in another therapeutic clinical trial * No other concurrent anticancer therapy * No other concurrent investigational drugs