Fluorouracil - (Efudex®)

This broad spectrum chemotherapy medication is commonly used to treat a variety of cancers. Fluorouracil belongs to the group of drugs called anti-metabolites. It can be given as a cream applied to the skin, or as a liquid given by intravenous transfusion (IV).

Please note: Your genetic results also apply to the drug capecitabine (ka-pe-SITE-a-been), another chemotherapy drug which is converted to fluorouracil in the body.

Your Results

High risk of side effects

Based on your genetic markers, you are likely to have a high risk of side effects. These can include severe, potentially fatal, toxicity including diarrhea, other gastrointestinal disorders, and decreased white blood cell count.

Drug and side effects facts

Generic names: fluorouracil (FLUR-oh-UE-ra-sil), 5-FU, 5-fluorouracil. These results also apply to a related drug, capecitabine.

Brand names: Adrucil®, Efudex®, Fluorplex®. These results also apply to a related drug, Xeloda®.

Primary uses: Fluorouracil and capecitabine are used for the treatment of breast cancer, colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, basal cell carcinoma and actinic keratosis (two types of skin cancer).

Secondary uses: Fluorouracil is also prescribed for the treatment of other types of cancers and for use in surgery to treat glaucoma.

Side effects: Based on their genetic makeup, some people are at increased risk for severe toxicity with this drug. The many symptoms of this toxicity can include vomiting, inflammation and ulceration or bleeding of the gastrointestinal tract, diarrhea, fever, and white blood cell deficiencies. Sometimes, this toxicity can be life-threatening. See a comprehensive list of side effects >

Learn more about how this drug affects you

What you can do

This information is likely to be important for your health.

Let your doctor(s) know about this genetic result.
Carry this information with you should it be needed in a medical consultation or emergency.
Consider sharing this information with your family.

Based on your genetic markers, if you are being treated for cancer, your medical team may want to reduce your risk of serious side effects by using chemotherapy drugs other than those in the fluorouracil group of medications.

Learn more about what you can do

How common are these side effects?

Side effects occur in up to 31 percent of patients taking fluorouracil. (This estimate reflects past occurrences of this side effect in the general population, not your personal genetic risk, and includes people of all ancestries.)

Genetics is only part of the story. Other factors, such as your treatment course, health status, and gender contribute to your risk of fluorouracil toxicity.

Learn more about side effects