Megestrol in Treating Patients Who Are Undergoing Radiation Therapy for Lung Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically confirmed lung cancer

Unresectable stage I-IIIB non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
Resected stage I-IIIB NSCLC
Limited stage small cell lung cancer
Planned radiotherapy with a total dose of at least 5,000 cGy in fraction sizes of no greater than 200 cGy each
No distant metastases
No significant ascites, pleural effusions, or edema that would inhibit oral food intake or invalidate weight determinations

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

Over 18

Performance status:

ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

More than 3 months

Hematopoietic:

Not specified

Hepatic:

Not specified

Renal:

Not specified

Cardiovascular:

No uncontrolled hypertension
No active thromboembolic disease
No myocardial infarction within the past 3 months
No prior congestive heart failure or thromboembolic events

Pulmonary:

No prior pulmonary edema

Other:

Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception
No other malignancy within the past 3 years except curatively treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix or non-melanoma skin cancer
No uncontrolled diabetes with glycosylated hemoglobin greater than 10%
No Cushing's syndrome
No dietary restrictions (e.g., salt, sugar, or lipid)
No other serious medical or psychiatric illness that would preclude study

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

Not specified

Chemotherapy:

See Endocrine therapy

Endocrine therapy:

At least 12 months since prior corticosteroids, estrogens, progestins, or other steroid hormone except as antiemetic prior to chemotherapy
No concurrent corticosteroids, estrogens, progestins, or other steroid hormone except as antiemetic prior to chemotherapy

Radiotherapy:

See Disease Characteristics
No prior radiotherapy to lung

Surgery:

See Disease Characteristics
More than 14 days since prior surgery