Can people survive because chemo and or radiation or in spite of it/them?

In the right setting: Dude, if chemo did nothing other than to kill patients, i would already be at the unemployment line. Chemo and radiation can be effective in curing cancer, extending life, or managing symptoms, depending on the situation. Doctor and patient have to look at the risks vs. Benefits and decide together what is the best course. Sometimes no treatment is the way to go, sometimes is full steam ahead.

Do not be mislead: Chemo and radiotherapy both have an established track record of controlling many cancers. When these two are used properly along with surgery 2/3 cancers can be cured today. That wa snot the case 30-40 years back when surgery alone was used with success in controlling less than 30-40% of cancers. This has all happened because of progress in developments in chemotherapy , mostly.