A Comparison of FLT to FDG PET/CT in the Early Assessment of Chemotherapy Response in Stage IB-IIIA Resectable NSCLC

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients must have histologically or cytologically confirmed clinical stage IB - IIIA non-small cell lung cancer; stage IV patients with oligometastatic disease with metastases that have been treated definitively with radiation or surgery are also eligible (ie: solitary brain or adrenal metastasis); mixed tumors will be categorized by the predominant cell type unless small cell elements are present in which case the patient is ineligible; note: tissue samples from biopsy confirmation will be required * Patients must be surgically resectable as determined by a thoracic surgeon * Patients must have measurable disease per RECIST 1.1, defined as at least one lesion that can be accurately measured in at least one dimension (longest diameter to be recorded) as \>= 10 mm with spiral CT scan * Life expectancy of greater than 12 weeks * ECOG performance status \< 1 * Leukocytes \>= 3,000/uL * Absolute neutrophil count \>= 1,500/uL * Platelets \>= 100,000/uL * Total bilirubin =\< 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal * AST (SGOT) =\< 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal * Alkaline phosphatase =\< 2.5 x institutional upper limit of normal * Creatinine =\< 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal OR creatinine clearance \>= 60 mL/1.73 m2 for patients with creatinine levels above institutional normal * Fasting screening blood glucose =\< 200 mg/dL * Pregnant women are excluded from this study; breastfeeding should be discontinued if the mother is treated with either agent Exclusion Criteria: * Women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation; should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately * Patients may not be receiving any other investigational agents * Patients must not have received prior systemic chemotherapy or radiation therapy for lung cancer; prior systemic chemotherapy or radiation for other malignancies over three years prior to study enrollment may be allowed at the discretion of the principal medical investigator * Prior malignancy in the past 3 years, other than non-melanoma skin cancer and in situ carcinoma of the cervix * Patients who report a hearing deficit at baseline, even if it does not require a hearing aid or intervention, or interfere with activities of daily life (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events \[CTCAE\] grade 2 or higher) * Peripheral neuropathy \> CTCAE grade 1 * History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to cisplatin, docetaxel, or other agents used in the study * Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, uncontrolled diabetes, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements * HIV-positive patients on combination antiretroviral therapy are ineligible * Inability to comply with study and/or follow-up procedures