OBJECTIVES: I. Compare the 12-year survival of patients with clinical stage I-IIA Hodgkin's disease treated with radiotherapy with or without doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) versus ABVD only. II. Compare the freedom from progression at 5 and 10 years in patients treated with these regimens. III. Compare the complete remission rate, freedom from secondary disease progression at 5 and 10 years, and cause-specific survival at 5, 10, and 15 years in patients treated with these regimens. IV. Compare the short- and long-term toxicity of these regimens in these patients. V. Compare the quality of life of patients in patients treated with these regimens.