OUTLINE: Patients receive a loading dose of cetuximab IV over 120 minutes on week 1 followed by 5 weekly maintenance doses over 60 minutes on weeks 2-6. Patients receive cisplatin IV over 30 minutes on weeks 1 and 4 beginning 1 hour after completion of cetuximab infusion. Radiotherapy is administered once daily during weeks 1-4 and twice daily during weeks 5 and 6. Following the initial 6 weeks of treatment, patients receive additional cetuximab IV over 30 minutes weekly on weeks 7-10. Quality of life is assessed at baseline, within 4 weeks after completion of all treatment, and at 3-4 months. Patients are followed at 4-6 weeks, 12-16 weeks, every 3 months for 2 years, every 4 months for 1 year, and then every 6 months for 2 years.