I understand your fear but those meds can be better than just pred alone. What will they be putting you on? I kind of doubt that you will experience much of the typical chemo med side effects, some people deal with these meds well. If they give you that much, they are doing something wrong. They had my friend on Imuran, and even though she had to stop the med it was not for those reasons. (She got a rare side effect.)

There are new meds on their way, like anakinra, that more target the real issue. You are young, and if your illness does not go into remission, you will have a much better chance than the last generation.

Please take care of yourself.