DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven, previously untreated Hodgkin's disease Stage IV OR Stage II or stage III with B symptoms (at least 1 of the following: unexplained weight loss greater than 10%, unexplained recurrent fever greater than 39 degrees C, or drenching night sweats) AND bulk disease (defined as a mediastinal mass greater than 1/3 of mediastinal thoracic diameter and/or nodal aggregate greater than 10.0 cm) The following cellular types are eligible: Mixed cellularity, not otherwise specified (NOS) Lymphocytic depletion, NOS Lymphocytic depletion, diffuse fibrosis Lymphocytic depletion, reticular Lymphocytic predominance, NOS Lymphocytic predominance, diffuse Lymphocytic predominance, nodular Hodgkin's paragranuloma Hodgkin's granuloma Hodgkin's sarcoma Nodular sclerosis, NOS Nodular sclerosis, cellular phase Nodular sclerosis, lymphocytic predominance Nodular sclerosis, mixed cellularity Nodular sclerosis, lymphocytic depletion Hodgkin's disease, NOS Must begin protocol therapy within 42 days of biopsy and 7 days of completion of staging