Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Previously Untreated Advanced Hodgkin's Lymphoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed Hodgkin's lymphoma (any sub-type) * Stage IB, IIB, IIIA, IIIB, or IV OR * Stage IA or IIA with locally extensive disease (e.g., bulky mediastinal disease (e.g., greater than 0.33 of the maximum transthoracic diameter on routine chest X-ray or at least 2 extranodal sites of disease)) PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 to 60 Performance status: * Not specified Life expectancy: * Not specified Hematopoietic: * Complete blood count normal unless directly due to Hodgkin's lymphoma Hepatic: * Hepatic function normal unless directly due to Hodgkin's lymphoma Renal: * Renal function normal unless directly due to Hodgkin's lymphoma Cardiovascular: * No pre-existing cardiac disease Pulmonary: * No pre-existing pulmonary disease Other: * Not pregnant * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for six months after study * HIV negative * No other prior malignancy except basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * Not specified Chemotherapy: * Not specified Endocrine therapy: * Not specified Radiotherapy: * Not specified Surgery: * Not specified Other: * No prior therapy for Hodgkin's lymphoma