I can't tell you how badly the treatment beat my husband up everytime we went through chemo. He couldn't even begin to think about working because he was sick all the time, exhausted, malnourished, dehydrated, and in need of hospital care a few times along the way. There were days he couldn't make it to shower. If there is vomiting and diarrhea then hydration can become a major issue very quickly, and dealing with it can really improve the patients condition. Chemo builds up as the weeks go by, but once it's done he will perk back up a lot. You're almost through this round. The reason they give you a break is because you wouldn't survive otherwise, and if it gets too much then it's just your body saying you need a small break to regroup. It's very scary but there is hope! People do survive this even though it may seem unlikely as you watch you loved ones go through it. I've read a lot these past couple years, and I really think the treatments are meeting with more success and survival rates are clearly on the upswing. Try to read current information because looking at 10 year old statistics can be terrifying.