PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 55 and over Performance status: Not specified Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: See Disease Characteristics Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No significant cardiac disease No cardiac arrhythmia No uncontrolled hypertension No recent myocardial infarction or ischemia Other: No uncontrolled metabolic condition that would preclude study No psychiatric condition that would preclude study HIV negative Hepatitis B surface antigen negative No known hypersensitivity to corticosteroids, E. coli protein, interleukin-3, SC-55494, SC-68420, leridistim, milodistim, or filgrastim (G-CSF)