DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically proven stage III or IV squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, or hypopharynx

* Gross total resection completed or planned

* No less than gross total resection
* No disease requiring staging surgery
* Prior gross total resection completed with one or more of the following risk factors:

* Histologically proven multiple lymph node metastases
* At least 1 lymph node with extracapsular extension of tumor
* Positive margin(s) of resection, including mucosal margins and/or soft tissue or deep margins of resection OR
* Gross total resection planned within 14 days of study enrollment with anticipated need for postoperative radiotherapy for one of the following:

* Multiple clinically/radiologically evident lymph nodes of at least 1.5 cm
* Single clinically/radiologically evident lymph node of at least 3 cm
* Histologically proven lymph node metastases
* No T3, N0 glottic cancer
* No nasopharyngeal or paranasal sinus carcinoma
* No distant metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 21 and over

Performance status:

* Zubrod 0-1

Life expectancy:

* Not specified

Hematopoietic:

* White blood cell (WBC) at least 3,000/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) no greater than 1.5 times ULN

Renal:

* Creatinine no greater than 1.5 ULN

Cardiovascular:

* No unstable angina
* No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months unless successfully treated with coronary artery bypass graft or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty
* No uncontrolled arrhythmia
* No second or third degree heart block or other clinically significant conduction system abnormality unless pacemaker is in place

Pulmonary:

* No severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease requiring 3 or more hospitalizations within the past year

Other:

* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* No pre-existing grade 2 or greater peripheral neurotoxicity
* No other prior malignancy within the past 3 years except low-risk nonmelanomatous skin cancer; carcinoma in situ (e.g., breast, cervix, or bladder); or stage T1-2, low to moderate grade prostate cancer
* No significant wound infection
* No fistula
* No major wound dehiscence
* Nutritional status adequate

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* Concurrent colony-stimulating factors for neutropenic fever during study chemoradiotherapy allowed

Chemotherapy:

* No prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

* Not specified

Radiotherapy:

* See Disease Characteristics
* No prior radiotherapy to head and neck

Surgery:

* See Disease Characteristics