Paclitaxel Albumin-Stabilized Nanoparticle Formulation and Carboplatin Followed By Chemoradiation in Treating Patients With Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: * Histological or cytological documentation of recurrent head and neck cancer requiring regional therapy * Recurrent or second primary, previously irradiated squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) without clinically measurably metastatic disease * Prior radiation therapy completed \>= 4 months, and/or chemotherapy completed \>= 1 month before study entry, and patient should have recovered from any adverse effects * Predominance of disease that is amenable to radiotherapy * Measurable disease prior to induction chemotherapy * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of one or less * Life expectancy of greater than 12 weeks * Women of childbearing potential and sexually active males must use an effective contraception method during treatment and for three months after completing treatment * Negative serum or urine beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) pregnancy test at screening for patients of childbearing potential * Patients must have \< grade 2 pre-existing peripheral neuropathy (per Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events \[CTCAE\]) * Leukocyte \>= 3,000/ul * Absolute neutrophil count \>= 1,500/ul * Platelets \>= 1000,000/ul * Total bilirubin =\< 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal * Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase \[SGOT\])/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase \[SGPT\]) \< 2.5 x institutional upper limit of normal * Creatinine clearance…