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