DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven stage I-IIA Hodgkin's disease Needle core biopsy is sufficient for diagnosis Needle aspirate not sufficient for diagnosis Any histology allowed Up to 1 extranodal site allowed if encompassable in a standard radiotherapy field No extranodal disease that cannot be included in such a field (e.g., lung, bone) No B symptoms Iliofemoral, inguinal, or parailiac nodal involvement allowed No other intra-abdominal disease Complete excision at biopsy allowed Considered eligible for radiotherapy by radiation and medical oncologists No stage IA disease that might be treated with involved-field radiotherapy only and meets the following criteria: Lymphocyte-predominant or nodular sclerosing histology Disease bulk less than 3 cm Erythrocyte sedimentation rate less than 50 Unilateral high-neck only disease, defined by 1 of the following conditions: Disease located above the upper border of the thyroid cartilage Isolated epitrochlear adenopathy No bulky adenopathy, defined by 1 of the following criteria: Palpable nodal mass greater than 10 cm in diameter Mediastinal mass with a maximum diameter of at least one-third the maximum chest wall diameter If supradiaphragmatic disease present: No clinical splenic involvement, defined by 1 of the following criteria: Spleen palpable on physical exam and enlarged on imaging studies Spleen showing focal abnormalities on imaging study consistent with Hodgkin's disease No lytic or blastic lesions on plain radiograph or abnormalities on bone scan consistent with Hodgkin's disease No pleural effusions or ascites Pleural thickening or "blunting" of costophrenic angle only on x-ray may be allowed

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 16 and over Performance status: Not specified Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 125,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (unless elevation due to hemolytic anemia) Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2 times ULN Cardiovascular: No symptomatic congestive heart failure or coronary artery disease No known valvular disease (other than asymptomatic mitral valve prolapse) No congenital heart disease (other than asymptomatic atrial septal defects) Hypertension controlled with drug therapy allowed Pulmonary: FVC, FEV1, and DLCO at least 60% predicted for patients with symptomatic lung disease or asthma controlled by medication Other: HIV negative No clinical diagnosis of AIDS No other major medical illness that would preclude study therapy No other prior or concurrent malignancy (including carcinoma in situ of the cervix) except adequately treated basal cell skin cancer Not pregnant Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No concurrent growth factors during the first course of chemotherapy Chemotherapy: No prior chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics No prior radiotherapy Surgery: See Disease Characteristics No prior staging laparotomy Other: No other concurrent anticancer therapy No concurrent cardiac medications