Kathy, both chemotherapy and radiation can cause side effects that last for years.  Some people are completely recovered from the side effects of their treatments within months and have no long term side effects.  For someone who has an aggressive cancer that will probably cut one's life short, trading the risk of side effects for a chance to live long enough to complain about them is an easy decision.  For people who risk of metastasis and recurrence is lower, the decision-making process can be more difficult.  There is no easy answer to your question in general:  which chemo?  taken for how long?  how much radiation?  applied where?  

The only way to answer this question is to compare two specific treatments that your doctors are recommending and then read the risks and benefits information very carefully.