Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Young Male Patients With Hodgkin's Lymphoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Diagnosis of classic Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) * Intermediate or advanced disease (stage I\[E\]-IV) * No lymphocyte-predominant HL * Previously untreated disease PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * Male * No known hypersensitivity or contraindication to study drugs * No other concurrent malignancies * No severe concurrent diseases (e.g., immune deficiency syndrome) * No known HIV positivity PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * See Disease Characteristics * No prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy * More than 30 days since prior and no other concurrent investigational drugs * More than 30 days since prior and no concurrent participation in another clinical trial