Paclitaxel, Carboplatin, and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients Who Are Undergoing Surgery for Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

OBJECTIVES: * Determine the mediastinal node clearance rate in patients with stage IIIA or IIIB non-small cell lung cancer treated with neoadjuvant induction chemoradiotherapy comprising paclitaxel, carboplatin, and high-dose radiotherapy followed by surgical resection for patients found to be resectable and consolidative chemotherapy comprising paclitaxel and carboplatin. * Determine the rate of complete pathological response in patients treated with this regimen. * Determine the feasibility of surgical resection after neoadjuvant induction chemoradiotherapy in these patients. * Determine disease-free and overall survival of patients treated with this regimen. * Determine the toxicity of this regimen in these patients.