A Comparison of FLT to FDG PET/CT in the Early Assessment of Chemotherapy Response in Stage IB-IIIA Resectable NSCLC

Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients must have histologically or cytologically confirmed clinical stage IB - IIIA non-small cell lung cancer; stage IV patients with oligometastatic disease with metastases that have been treated definitively with radiation or surgery are also eligible (ie: solitary brain or adrenal metastasis); mixed tumors will be categorized by the predominant cell type unless small cell elements are present in which case the patient is ineligible; note: tissue samples from biopsy confirmation will be required
* Patients must be surgically resectable as determined by a thoracic surgeon
* Patients must have measurable disease per RECIST 1.1, defined as at least one lesion that can be accurately measured in at least one dimension (longest diameter to be recorded) as \>= 10 mm with spiral CT scan
* Life expectancy of greater than 12 weeks
* ECOG performance status \< 1
* Leukocytes \>= 3,000/uL
* Absolute neutrophil count \>= 1,500/uL
* Platelets \>= 100,000/uL
* Total bilirubin =\< 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal
* AST (SGOT) =\< 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal
* Alkaline phosphatase =\< 2.5 x institutional upper limit of normal
* Creatinine =\< 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal OR creatinine clearance \>= 60 mL/1.73 m2 for patients with creatinine levels above institutional normal
* Fasting screening blood glucose =\< 200 mg/dL
* Pregnant women are excluded from this study; breastfeeding should be discontinued if the mother is treated with either agent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation; should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately
* Patients may not be receiving any other investigational agents
* Patients must not have received prior systemic chemotherapy or radiation therapy for lung cancer; prior systemic chemotherapy or radiation for other malignancies over three years prior to study enrollment may be allowed at the discretion of the principal medical investigator
* Prior malignancy in the past 3 years, other than non-melanoma skin cancer and in situ carcinoma of the cervix
* Patients who report a hearing deficit at baseline, even if it does not require a hearing aid or intervention, or interfere with activities of daily life (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events \[CTCAE\] grade 2 or higher)
* Peripheral neuropathy \> CTCAE grade 1
* History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to cisplatin, docetaxel, or other agents used in the study
* Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, uncontrolled diabetes, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
* HIV-positive patients on combination antiretroviral therapy are ineligible
* Inability to comply with study and/or follow-up procedures