OBJECTIVES: I. Compare the response rate, toxicity, quality-of-life, and overall survival at 1 year in patients with advanced head and neck carcinomas when treated with paclitaxel and cisplatin vs cisplatin and fluorouracil. II. Compare these regimens in terms of quality of life and correlate quality of life to toxicity in these patients. III. Compare these regimens in terms of pain intensity and correlate pain with quality of life and toxicity in these patients.