Radiation Therapy, Cisplatin, and Etoposide in Treating Patients With Non-small Cell Lung Cancer That Cannot Be Removed by Surgery

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients with confirmed unresectable Stage IIB or Stage III non-small cell lung cancer of any histologic-subtype appropriate for definitive concurrent chemotherapy and radiation as determined by multi-disciplinary assessment; all detectable tumor should be encompassable by radiation therapy fields, including both the primary tumor and the involved regional lymph nodes * Granulocytes \>= 1500/ul * Platelets \>= 100,000/ul * Bilirubin \< 1.5 mg/dl * Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase \[SGOT\]) \< 2 upper limit of normal (ULN) * Creatinine clearance must be \> 60ml/min * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) 0 to 1 * Weight loss =\< 5% in the previous six months unless weight loss is intentional (per judgment of study medical doctor \[MD\]) * Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) must be \>= 1.0 L * Patients must sign a study-specific informed consent form prior to study entry * Patients must have measurable disease on the 3D planning computed tomography (CT) * Patient must have a completed 3D plan and the attending physician must have reviewed and approved the dose volume histograms as follows: total lung volume percentage receiving at least 20 Gy (V20) =\< 35%, and mean lung dose =\< 20 Gy Exclusion Criteria: * Mixed histology or undifferentiated small cell carcinoma, any stage * Concurrent malignancy except non-melanomatous skin cancer or prior cancer if disease-free for one year or more * Patients with malignant pleural effusions or significant pericardial effusions * Pregnant or lactating females * Severe neuropathy greater than or equal to grade 2 * Severe sensorineural hearing loss greater or equal to grade 2 * No clinically significant history of cardiac disease, (i.e. uncontrolled hypertension, unstable angina, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction within the past year, or cardiac ventricular arrhythmias requiring medication) * Any significant or severe medical conditions or psychiatric or social conditions that would preclude adherence to the protocol or compliance with study treatments