Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed, completely resected stage IA (pT1, N0) or IB (pT2, N0)
non-small lung cancer (except carcinoid)*

- Completion of treatment for stage I lung cancer within the past 6 to 36 months
and currently disease free

- At least one mediastinal lymph node sampled at resection NOTE: *SWOG and CALGB
patients must be T1, N0; CALGB patients may be T2, N0 provided disease was
completely resected prior to June 1, 2001 and participation in CALGB 9633 was
refused if offered

- No evidence of new or recurrent lung cancer on chest x-ray within the past 8 weeks

- No synchronous lung or non-lung lesions or metastasis, even if resectable

- No history of more than one primary lung cancer at any time

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 18 and over

Performance status:

- ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy:

- Not specified

Hematopoietic:

- Not specified

Hepatic:

- Bilirubin no greater than upper limit of normal (ULN)

- SGOT or SGPT no greater than ULN

Renal:

- Not specified

Other:

- No concurrent or other prior cancer within the past 5 years except localized
non-melanoma skin cancer

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- Not specified

Chemotherapy:

- No prior or concurrent chemotherapy for recurrent lung cancer

Endocrine therapy:

- Not specified

Radiotherapy:

- No prior or concurrent radiotherapy for recurrent lung cancer

Surgery:

- See Disease Characteristics

- No concurrent surgery

Other:

- Prior mineral, herbal, phytochemical, or vitamin supplementation allowed

- No concurrent supplement(s) containing more than 50 micrograms of selenium

- Concurrent non-selenium containing mineral, herbal, phytochemical, or vitamin
supplementation allowed if schedule and supplementation prior to study remains
unchanged