Combination Chemotherapy With or Without Bevacizumab in Treating Patients With Advanced, Metastatic, or Recurrent Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients must have histologically or cytologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer EXCEPT squamous cell carcinoma; mixed tumors will be categorized by the predominant cell type unless small cell elements are present in which case the patient is ineligible; cytologic or histologic elements can be established on metastatic tumor aspirates or biopsy
* Patients must have advanced NSCLC (stage IIIB with malignant pleural effusion or stage IV or recurrent disease)
* Patients must have measurable or non-measurable disease
* ECOG performance status 0 or 1
* Patients must not have known central nervous system (CNS) metastases; a head CT is required within 4 weeks prior to study entry; (MRIs are also acceptable)
* Patients must not have received prior systemic chemotherapy at any time
* ANC \>= 1500/mm\^3
* Platelets \>= 100,000/mm\^3
* Total bilirubin =\< 1.5 mg/dl
* Transaminases =\< 5 x ULN
* Serum creatinine less than or equal to 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN)
* Urine dipstick for proteinuria of less than 1+ (i.e., either 0 or trace); if urine dipstick is \>= 1+ then a 24 hour urine for protein must demonstrate \< 500 mg of protein in 24 hours to allow participation in the study; note: urinalysis is also acceptable
* Patients must have INR =\< 1.5 and a PTT no greater than upper limits of normal within 1 week prior to randomization
* Pregnant and lactating women are excluded from the study
* Women of childbearing potential and sexually active males must agree to use an accepted and effective method of contraception (hormonal or barrier methods, abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of the study
* Patients must not have had immuno, hormonal or radiation therapy within 3 weeks prior to entering the study; those who have not recovered from adverse events due to agents administered more than 3 weeks earlier are ineligible
* Patients must not have ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
* Patients must have no history of thrombotic or hemorrhagic disorders
* Patients with history of hypertension must be well-controlled (\< 150/100) on a stable regimen of anti-hypertensive therapy
* Patients must not be receiving chronic daily treatment with aspirin (\> 325 mg/day) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents known to inhibit platelet function; treatment with dipyridamole (Persantine), ticlopidine (Ticlid), clopidogrel (Plavix) and/or cilostazol (Pletal) is also not allowed
* Patients must not have serious non-healing wound ulcer, or bone fracture, or major surgical procedure within 21 days prior to starting treatment
* Patients must not be on therapeutic anticoagulation; prophylactic anticoagulation of venous access devices is allowed; caution should be taken on treating patients with low dose heparin or low molecular weight heparin for DVT prophylaxis during treatment with bevacizumab as there may be an increased risk of bleeding
* Patients with a history of gross hemoptysis (defined as bright red blood of a 1/2 teaspoon or more) will be excluded from this trial