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