Selenomethionine in Reducing Mucositis in Patients With Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Who Are Receiving Cisplatin and Radiation Therapy

Inclusion Criteria: * Biopsy-proven locally-advanced HNSCC, including those with cancers of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, larynx, nasopharynx or paranasal sinuses * Stage III, IVa or IVb disease * No prior definitive surgery for present diagnosis * Appropriate candidate for concurrent cisplatin and radiation as definitive treatment; patients who receive induction chemotherapy as part of a definitive treatment program that will include concurrent CRT are eligible for this study * Hemoglobin \>= 10 g/dL (100 g/l) * Absolute neutrophil count \>= 2,000 cells/mm\^3 (2 x 10\^9/l) * Platelets \>= 100,000 cells/mm\^3 (100 x 10\^9/l) * Serum creatinine =\< 1.5 mg/dL (133 umol/l) or calculated creatinine clearance \>= 50 ml/min using the Cockcroft-Gault formula * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-2 * Able to give written informed consent * Be willing and able to comply with study procedures Exclusion Criteria: * Non-regional metastatic disease (stage IVc) * Previous malignancy within the last 5 years except for adequately treated basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia * Prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy for HNSCC, or any prior radiotherapy that would compromise delivery of a radical dose to the HNSCC * Known to be positive for hepatitis C or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) * Unable to tolerate oral medication (unless a feeding tube is in place) * History of hypersensitivity to platinum drugs * …