DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Biopsy-proven Hodgkin's disease, subclassified according to the Rye system Clinical Stages IA, IEA, IIA, and IIEA according to modified Ann Arbor system Staging laparotomy not allowed Completely resected disease allowed Residual disease, if present, must be bidimensionally measurable No mediastinal mass greater than 1/3 the maximum chest diameter No infradiaphragmatic presentation No pericardial E lesions (small pericardial effusions in the absence of nodular pericardial disease allowed) Concurrent registration on protocol SWOG-9208 (quality-of-life study) required unless patient does not understand or read English

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 16 and over Performance status: SWOG 0-2 Hematopoietic: AGC at least 2,000 Platelets within normal limits Hepatic: Bilirubin within normal limits Renal: Creatinine within normal limits Cardiovascular: LVEF normal No serious EKG abnormality Pulmonary: No serious pulmonary condition Other: No serious medical condition other than Hodgkin's disease No known AIDS or HIV-associated complex No second malignancy within 5 years except: Adequately treated nonmelanomatous skin cancer Adequately treated in situ carcinoma of the cervix No pregnant or lactating women Adequate contraception required of fertile patients Blood/body fluid analyses to determine eligibility completed within 14 days prior to registration; imaging studies for tumor measurement completed within 28 days prior to registration; screening exams other than blood/body fluid analyses, and imaging studies of nonmeasurable disease or uninvolved organs completed within 42 days prior to registration

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No prior biologic therapy Chemotherapy: No prior chemotherapy for any reason Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: No prior radiotherapy for any reason Surgery: No staging laparotomy