Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically proven non-small cell lung cancer
Squamous cell lung cancer Large cell lung cancer Adenocarcinoma lung cancer Mixture of
above Locally advanced disease for which the patient declined aggressive treatment or that
is unsuitable for aggressive curative treatment due to at least one of the following:
Performance status of ECOG 2 or 3 Otherwise unexplained weight loss greater than 10% in
the last 6 months Bulky disease that cannot be irradiated safely to high doses Inability
to tolerate chemotherapy Cytologically positive pleural effusion OR Clinically or
radiologically proven metastatic disease for which palliative chemotherapy is not planned
in the first 38 days after radiotherapy No more than one brain metastasis allowed One of
the following symptoms identified as the index symptom: Loss of appetite Nausea Vomiting
Cough Coughing up blood Chest pain Shortness of breath Difficulty swallowing Fatigue Must
have symptoms related to intrathoracic lung cancer that are amenable to radiation
palliation

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 16 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-3 Life expectancy:
Greater than 3 months Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: Not specified Renal: Not
specified Other: Fluent in English or French No loss of sight or other inability to
complete questionnaires or diary Not pregnant No concurrent terminal illness No other
active malignancy that is causing symptoms or is expected to progress in the next 3 months

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: At least 30 days
since prior chemotherapy and failed No planned chemotherapy within 38 days after study
treatment Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: No planned laser therapy within
38 days after study treatment Surgery: At least 30 days since prior surgery and failed
Other: No planned photodynamic therapy or sclerotherapy within 38 days after study
treatment