Selenomethionine in Reducing Mucositis in Patients With Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Who Are Receiving Cisplatin and Radiation Therapy

Inclusion Criteria:

* Biopsy-proven locally-advanced HNSCC, including those with cancers of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, larynx, nasopharynx or paranasal sinuses
* Stage III, IVa or IVb disease
* No prior definitive surgery for present diagnosis
* Appropriate candidate for concurrent cisplatin and radiation as definitive treatment; patients who receive induction chemotherapy as part of a definitive treatment program that will include concurrent CRT are eligible for this study
* Hemoglobin \>= 10 g/dL (100 g/l)
* Absolute neutrophil count \>= 2,000 cells/mm\^3 (2 x 10\^9/l)
* Platelets \>= 100,000 cells/mm\^3 (100 x 10\^9/l)
* Serum creatinine =\< 1.5 mg/dL (133 umol/l) or calculated creatinine clearance \>= 50 ml/min using the Cockcroft-Gault formula
* Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-2
* Able to give written informed consent
* Be willing and able to comply with study procedures

Exclusion Criteria:

* Non-regional metastatic disease (stage IVc)
* Previous malignancy within the last 5 years except for adequately treated basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia
* Prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy for HNSCC, or any prior radiotherapy that would compromise delivery of a radical dose to the HNSCC
* Known to be positive for hepatitis C or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
* Unable to tolerate oral medication (unless a feeding tube is in place)
* History of hypersensitivity to platinum drugs
* Symptomatic peripheral neuropathy \>= National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) grade II
* Pregnant, lactating or unwilling to use adequate contraception
* 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
* Planned use of amifostine for prophylaxis against radiation-induced xerostomia
* Patients taking selenium supplements in excess of 100 ug/day
* Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, clinically significant cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
* Evidence of any other significant medical disorder or laboratory finding that in the opinion of the Investigator compromises the subject's safety during the study