What Fluorouracil Is Used For:
- Colon and rectal cancer
- Anal
- Breast cancer
- Gastrointestinal cancers including: anal, esophageal, pancreas and gastric (stomach)
- Head and neck cancer
- Unknown primary (squamous cell)
- Neuroendocrine tumors
- Thymic cancers
- Cervical cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Hepatobiliary cancers
- Topical use (cream or solution) in basal cell cancer of the skin and actinic keratoses (-see document Fluorouracil ( cream))
Compared with many other cytotoxic chemotherapies, 5-FU and capecitabine are better tolerated, with manageable side-effect profiles. Rarely is drug discontinuation warranted, although dose reductions may be necessary to continue treatment.