fluorouracil
Other Name: 5-FU, 5-fluorouracil
; may be mixed into larger volumes of fluids
- For treating breast, colorectal or other digestive system cancers, and many other types of cancer
- Tell your health care team if you have or had significant medical condition(s), especially if you have or had:
- recent major surgery
- liver or kidney problems
- heart problems, including irregular heartbeat, or
- any allergies
- recent major surgery
- Tell your health care team if you have had fluorouracil before, especially if you had severe side effects from it
Remember to:
- Tell your health care team about all of the other medications you are taking.
- Keep taking other medications that have been prescribed for you, unless you have been told not to by your health care team.
Your health care team may ask you to have a blood test to check for DPD deficiency before starting treatment. DPD deficiency is when you have low or no activity of an enzyme called DPD (dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase). A deficiency can cause you to have severe side effects from fluorouracil. See the Testing for people taking capecitabine or 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) pamphlet for more information.
- Talk to your health care team about:
- How this treatment may affect your sexual health.
- How this treatment may affect your ability to have a baby, if this applies to you.
- This treatment may harm an unborn baby. Tell your health care team if you or your partner are pregnant, become pregnant during treatment, or are breastfeeding.
- If there is any chance of pregnancy happening, you and your partner together must use 2 effective forms of birth control at the same time until 6 months after your last treatment dose. Talk to your health care team about which birth control options are best for you.
- Do not use hormonal birth control (such as birth control pills), unless your health care team told you that they are safe. Talk to your health care team about the safest birth control for you.
- Do not breastfeed while on this treatment.
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This drug is given by injection into a vein.
- Talk to your health care team about your treatment schedule.
- If you missed your treatment appointment, talk to your health care team to find out what to do.
To help prevent Hand-foot syndrome:
Hand-foot syndrome is a side-effect of fluorouracil. It affects the skin on your hands and the bottom of your feet and usually starts with tingling or swelling of your skin. It can become painful, red and numb. In worse cases, your skin may start to peel and you can get blisters or sores.
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Do not do activities that cause rubbing or pressure on your skin, like heavy-duty washing, gripping tools, typing, playing musical instruments, and driving.
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Moisturize your hands and feet often, especially in the skin folds.
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Wear loose, comfortable footwear and clothes.
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Rest and try to keep off your feet.
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Do not let your hands and feet get too hot.
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This medication can interact with other medications and can result in the treatment not working as well or cause severe side effects.
- Make sure your health care team knows about all your medications (prescription, over-the-counter, herbals and supplements), especially if you take medication to treat epilepsy, infections, stomach acid or blood clots. Check with your health care team before starting or stopping any of them.
- For mild aches and pain or fever:
- If you feel unwell, take your temperature before taking any medications for pain or fever. They may hide a fever.
- You may take acetaminophen (Tylenol®) tablets. Ask your health care team about the right dose for you.
- Ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®), naproxen (Aleve®) or aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid, ASA), including low dose aspirin for heart conditions, may increase your chance of bleeding. Talk to your health care team before you start or stop these medications.
- Talk to your health care team or go to the closest emergency room right away if you have a fever. See the Fever pamphlet for more information.
- If you feel unwell, take your temperature before taking any medications for pain or fever. They may hide a fever.
- DO protect your skin from the sun. Wear a long sleeved shirt, long pants and a hat. Apply sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection and an SPF of at least 30. Your skin may be more sensitive to the sun and you could develop a bad sunburn or rash more easily.
- DO talk to your health care team about your risk of getting other cancers after this treatment.
- DO NOT smoke or drink alcohol while on treatment without talking to your health care team first. Smoking and drinking can make side effects worse and make your treatment not work as well.
The following table lists side effects that you may have when getting fluorouracil. The table is set up to list the most common side effects first and the least common last. It is unlikely that you will have all of the side effects listed and you may have some that are not listed.
Read over the side effect table so that you know what to look for and when to get help. Refer to this table if you experience any side effects while on fluorouracil.
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Low neutrophils (white blood cells) in the blood (neutropenia) (More likely with fast injections; May be severe) When neutrophils are low, you are at risk of getting an infection more easily. Ask your health care team for the Neutropenia (Low white blood cell count) pamphlet for more information. What to look for?
You have a fever if your temperature taken in your mouth (oral temperature) is:
What to do? If your health care team has told you that you have low neutrophils:
If you have a fever: If you have a fever, try to contact your health care team. If you are unable to talk to the team for advice, you must get emergency medical help right away.
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If you have a fever, try to contact your health care team. If you are unable to talk to the team for advice, you MUST get emergency medical help right away. | ||||
Low platelets in the blood (More likely with fast injections; May be severe) When your platelets are low, you are at risk for bleeding and bruising. Ask your health care team for the Low Platelet Count pamphlet for more information. What to look for?
What to do? If your health care team has told you that you have low platelets:
If you have signs of bleeding:
If you have bleeding that does not stop or is severe (very heavy), you must get emergency medical help right away. |
Talk to your health care team if you have any signs of bleeding. If you have bleeding that doesn’t stop or is severe (very heavy), you MUST get emergency help right away. | ||||
Changes in heart rhythm What to look for?
Get emergency medical help right away if you have any symptoms of changes in your heart rhythm. |
Get emergency medical help right away | ||||
Nausea and vomiting (generally mild)
What to look for?
To help prevent nausea:
If you have nausea or vomiting:
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Talk to your healthcare team if nausea lasts more than 48 hours or vomiting lasts more than 24 hours or if it is severe |
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Diarrhea (may be severe) What to look for?
What to do? If you have diarrhea:
Ask your health care team for the Diarrhea pamphlet for more information. |
Talk to your health care team if no improvement after 24 hours of taking diarrhea medication or if severe (more than 7 times in one day) | ||||
Liver problems (may be severe) Your health care team may check your liver function with a blood test. The liver changes do not usually cause any symptoms. What to look for?
What to do? If you have any symptoms of liver problems, get emergency medical help right away.
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Get emergency medical help right away | ||||
Mouth sores (may be severe) What to look for?
To help prevent mouth sores:
Ask your health care team for the Oral Care (Mouth Care) pamphlet for more information. |
Talk to your health care team as soon as you notice mouth or lip sores or if it hurts to eat, drink or swallow | ||||
Eye problems What to look for?
What to do?
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Contact your health care team as soon as possible |
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Rash; dry, itchy skin, Skin sensitivity to sunlight What to look for?
What to do?
Rash may be severe in some rare cases and cause your skin to blister or peel. If this happens, get emergency medical help right away. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe | ||||
Low appetite What to look for?
Ask your health care team for the Loss of Appetite pamphlet for more information. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe | ||||
Hair thinning or loss (generally mild) What to look for?
What to do?
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Talk to your health care team if this bothers you | ||||
Rash on your hands and feet (hand-foot syndrome) (More likely with long infusions) What to look for?
What to do? To help prevent Hand-foot syndrome:
Ask your health care team for the Hand-foot syndrome pamphlet for more information. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Other rare, but serious side effects are possible.
If you experience ANY of the following, speak to your cancer health care provider or get emergency medical help right away:
- shortness of breath, pain in the chest that may spread to the arm or belly, coughing up blood
- swelling in your legs, ankles and belly
- pain, swelling and hardening of the vein in an arm or leg
- have trouble seeing, speaking, or using your arms and legs
- confusion, severe weakness, problems with your balance or have falls
- unusual muscle spasms, tremors, irregular or jerky movements
- redness or rash in areas where you had radiation before
- itchiness, rash, swollen lips, face or tongue, chest and throat tightness, during or shortly after the medication is given
- have red-brown coloured pee
Who do I contact if I have questions or need help?My cancer health care provider is: ______________________________________________ During the day I should contact:________________________________________________ Evenings, weekends and holidays:______________________________________________
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Other Notes:
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April 2023 Updated information sheet
For more links on how to manage your symptoms go to www.cancercareontario.ca/symptoms.
The information set out in the medication information sheets, regimen information sheets, and symptom management information (for patients) contained in the Drug Formulary (the "Formulary") is intended to be used by health professionals and patients for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or side effects of a certain drug, nor should it be used to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for a given condition.
A patient should always consult a healthcare provider if he/she has any questions regarding the information set out in the Formulary. The information in the Formulary is not intended to act as or replace medical advice and should not be relied upon in any such regard. All uses of the Formulary are subject to clinical judgment and actual prescribing patterns may not follow the information provided in the Formulary.