OUTLINE: This is a randomized, two stage, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to RTOG recursive partitioning analysis class (RPA class 1 vs class 2) and tumor type (breast vs lung vs other). Stage 1 (lead-in): All patients receive gadolinium texaphyrin IV over 5-10 minutes on the 10 days that they receive radiotherapy. Approximately 2-5 hours later, patients undergo whole brain radiotherapy. Stage 2 (randomization): Patients are randomized to one of two treatment arms. Patients in arm I undergo whole brain radiotherapy for 10 days. Patients in arm II receive gadolinium texaphyrin and radiotherapy as in stage 1. Quality of life is assessed on days 10 and 28, then monthly for 5 months, and then every 3 months thereafter. Patients are followed at day 28, then monthly for 5 months, and then every 3 months until death.