OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the toxic effects and antitumor efficacy of paclitaxel plus carboplatin in patients with unresectable, intrathoracic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). II. Integrate concurrent thoracic radiation therapy and weekly low dose paclitaxel into treatment of this patient population. III. Investigate a primary chemoradiotherapy treatment approach in a population of patients selected on the basis of performance status regardless of degree of weight loss. IV. Determine the effect of amifostine on the incidence of treatment nonhematologic toxic effects, specifically esophagitis, pneumonitis, and radiation dermatitis, in these patients.