DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed lung cancer

  • Unresectable stage I-IIIB non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
  • Resected stage I-IIIB NSCLC
  • Limited stage small cell lung cancer
• Planned radiotherapy with a total dose of at least 5,000 cGy in fraction sizes of no greater than 200 cGy each
• No distant metastases
• No significant ascites, pleural effusions, or edema that would inhibit oral food intake or invalidate weight determinations

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• Over 18

Performance status:

• ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

• More than 3 months

Hematopoietic:

• Not specified

Hepatic:

• Not specified

Renal:

• Not specified

Cardiovascular:

• No uncontrolled hypertension
• No active thromboembolic disease
• No myocardial infarction within the past 3 months
• No prior congestive heart failure or thromboembolic events

Pulmonary:

• No prior pulmonary edema

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No other malignancy within the past 3 years except curatively treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix or non-melanoma skin cancer
• No uncontrolled diabetes with glycosylated hemoglobin greater than 10%
• No Cushing's syndrome
• No dietary restrictions (e.g., salt, sugar, or lipid)
• No other serious medical or psychiatric illness that would preclude study

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• Not specified

Chemotherapy:

• See Endocrine therapy

Endocrine therapy:

• At least 12 months since prior corticosteroids, estrogens, progestins, or other steroid hormone except as antiemetic prior to chemotherapy
• No concurrent corticosteroids, estrogens, progestins, or other steroid hormone except as antiemetic prior to chemotherapy

Radiotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior radiotherapy to lung

Surgery:

• See Disease Characteristics
• More than 14 days since prior surgery