Bevacizumab, Docetaxel, and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage III or Stage IV Head and Neck Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck * Stage III or IV disease * No evidence of distant metastases * No salivary gland or paranasal sinus squamous cell carcinoma * No disease with close proximity to a major vessel * Measurable disease * No known CNS or brain metastases * Patients with intracranial extension without cerebral involvement may be eligible PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * ECOG performance status 0-1 * Life expectancy \> 12 weeks * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL * Bilirubin normal * AST and ALT ≤ 2 times upper limit of normal * PT normal * Creatinine normal OR * Creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min * Urine protein: creatinine ratio \< 1.0 * No bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No history of allergic reaction attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to study drugs * No pre-existing peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2 * No ongoing or active infection * No serious non-healing wound, ulcer, or bone fracture * No New York Heart Association class II-IV congestive heart failure * No significant arrhythmias requiring medication * No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * No stroke within the past 6 months * No symptomatic coronary artery disease * No second- or third-degree heart block or bundle branch block * No unstable angina pectoris * No hypertension (i.e., blood pressure ≥ 150/100 mm Hg) * No other clinically significant heart disease * No significant traumatic injury within the past 4 weeks * No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance * No HIV positivity * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except squamous cell or basal cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix * No other uncontrolled illness * No poorly compliant patients PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * No prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy * No prior investigational anticancer agents * More than 4 weeks since prior major surgery * More than 1 week since prior minor surgery, fine-needle aspiration, or core needle biopsy * No concurrent major surgery except planned neck dissection * No concurrent routine colony-stimulating factor therapy * No other concurrent investigational agents * No other concurrent anticancer therapy