Confused Daughter

My mother has been diagnosed with breast cancer Stage II and had a lumpectomy and she is now trying to decide the course of action.  She has so many other medical issues with so many doctors involved.  She has the following: Schlerderma;Lupus;polymyositis;rumetoid arthritis;diabetes;arterial defibrulation (heart).  The doctors tell her she needs chemotheropy as well as radiation treatments.  They also told her that the chemo could possibly accelerate her other diseases or may help them.  I would like to know your opinion and whether you have had any patients with this many complications.  Do you know the statistics of how many patients with autoimmune system diseases that benefited versus made their diseases worse with the treatment of chemotheropy?  I would appreciate any advise you can give me for my mother.  Thanking you in advance!

[Cleveland Clinic]

Dear belden:  We have certainly treated people who have multiple health problems.  In each case, benefit must be weighed against risk.  There are no real statistics on this because everyone is different.  You should be sure your mother is seeking care at a large academic setting with people who have handled these situations before.