Oxaliplatin, Ifosfamide and Etoposide in Treating Young Patients With Recurrent or Refractory Solid Tumors or Lymphoma

Inclusion Criteria:

* Life expectancy \> 8 weeks
* Albumin \> 2 g/dL
* Histologically confirmed diagnosis of 1 of the following: solid tumor; histologic verification not required for brainstem tumors or optic pathway tumors; lymphoma; recurrent or refractory to conventional therapy OR no known effective therapy exists; bone marrow involvement allowed
* Performance Status: Karnofsky \>= 50 % (patients \> 10 years of age) OR Lansky \>= 50% (patients for =\< 10 years of age)
* Absolute neutrophil count \> 1,000/mm\^3
* Platelet count \> 100,000/mm\^3 (transfusion independent)
* Hemoglobin \> 8 g/dL (transfusion allowed)
* ALT \< 5.0 times ULN
* Creatinine normal OR glomerular filtration rate \>= 80 mL/min/1.73 m\^2
* Calcium normal (electrolyte supplements allowed)
* Echocardiogram and EKG normal
* Shortening fraction \>= 27% OR ejection fraction \> 50%
* No evidence of dyspnea at rest
* No exercise intolerance
* Pulse oximetry \> 94% on room air
* Neurologic deficits due to CNS tumor must be relatively stable for \>= 2 weeks before study entry
* Seizure disorder allowed provided well-controlled by non-enzyme-inducing anticonvulsants
* No peripheral neurotoxicity \> grade 1
* Sodium, potassium, and magnesium normal (electrolyte supplements allowed)
* At least 1 week since prior biologic agents
* More than 1 week since prior growth factors
* More than 6 months since prior allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation AND no active graft-versus-host disease
* More than 3 weeks since prior myelosuppressive chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas)
* More than 2 weeks since prior focal radiotherapy for symptomatic metastatic sites
* More than 6 weeks since prior substantial bone marrow radiotherapy
* More than 3 months since prior craniospinal (\> 24 Gy), whole pelvis, or total-body radiotherapy
* Recovered from all prior therapy
* No concurrent enzyme-inducing anticonvulsants, including, but not limited to, the following: Barbiturates; Phenytoin; Carbamazepine

Exclusion Criteria:

* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* No uncontrolled infection
* No history of life-threatening hypersensitivity to platinum-containing agents
* No prior oxaliplatin
* No other concurrent investigational agents
* No other concurrent anticancer therapy
* Inability or unwillingness of research participant or legal guardian/representative to give written informed consent.