breast cancer drugs

Ive posted several times about my mom...just diagnosed with stage III Invasive Lobular Carcinoma. Shes not even at the treatment stage yet...just saw her Oncologist for the first time last week. My question now, is the treatment. Its mind blowing..to see what they have planned for her.
Has anyone ever gone thru this much, this long? The side effects Ive read about these drugs are SO intimidating.
Can you tell me if they are likely to happen? ( Side effects)... actually ANY info...on anything is appreciated.
She has:
8 weeks chemo..1x every 2 wks
THEN.. Adriamycin (and they mention Cytoxan too..would it be at the same time?) 1x a week for TWELVE weeks.
THEN..Radiation...30 treatments...5 days a week for 6 weeks.
THEN..Herceptin (Im worried about this one..side effects sound very scary) 1x every THREE weeks for 9 MONTHS!
THEN.. an anti-estrogen pill daily.

This is too much to take in.....
she has a PET scan this Thursday...to see if it has spread.
It just floors me..they say shes had it for a year and a half... and during that time, she has had 2 physicals, 3 mamograms ( in Aug 07 they did extra to that very nipple that had the cancer) and an ultrasound...and NOTHING indicated that she had a 6 cm tumor growing behind the nipple!

[PaulMD]

Hi.

All of these treatments are aimed for the ultimate benefit of your mom, which is to decrease the chance of the cancer recurring or spreading.  The chances of the side effects from these drugs such as that of neutropenia, infections, and even heart failure is less than around 10%, which is still a pretty good odds.

If you and your mother are not amenable to take these risks for the prospect of future benefits, then I suggest you discuss the options well with her doctors.

Regards.