www.know_the_risk_of_5fu_chemotherapy.com

Date of latest revision: 26 Mar 2025

You will find here examples of people who suffered severe toxic reactions to 5-FU chemotherapy treatment.  Pre-screening for DPD deficiency could have averted the problems these individuals endured. 

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Kathryn -- a colorectal cancer patient started treatment with 5-FU, was hospitalized within 9 days, and died as a result of her treatment within 22 days. Read more:

Kerrie -- young mother of three, one treatment led to hospitalization where well beyond 96 hours from her treatment she received Vistogard only to never recover and remain under care for years before dying. Read more:

Linda -- a rectal cancer patient received 5-FU treatment (without pre-screening), was hospitalized within a week and after suffering for three weeks died from her toxic reaction. Read more:

David -- was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, bile duct cancer, had successful surgery, and at the advice of his oncologist started capecitabine treatment as a preventive measure. David died from his toxic reaction. Read more: 

Jane -- a colon cancer patient who had to stop receiving treatment because of her response to 5-FU; when she regained strength and learned she could tolerate a lower dose it was too late to stem the cancer. Read more:

Jerri -- suffered a severe toxic reaction within 3 days of her first treatment of 5-FU; she never recovered. Read more:

Lynn -- a UK resident, underwent successful surgery for colon cancer but then died as a result of her 5-FU chemotherapy.  Read more:

Susan -- had a successful surgery for colon cancer and then at the urging of her oncologist, she agreed to start 5-FU chemotherapy which ultimately took her life. Read more:

Carol -- a breast cancer patient, experienced early problems with her capecitabine treatment as she lost lost 18 lbs in 2 weeks; this and other symptoms were dismissed as "common side effects" at a leading US cancer center. Carol died a month after the start of treatment. Read more: 

Paul -- a resident of Quebec died after a single treatment of capecitabine. Read more:

Warning: troubling pictures of Paul in the hospital are included.

Cherri -- had an immediate severe toxic reaction to 5-FU chemotherapy that soon took her life. Read more:

Dr. Anil (Monty) Kapoor -- a world renowned surgeon died after one treatment of 5-FU.  Read more:

Larry -- underwent successful surgery to remove a tumor found in his colon. He chose to start adjuvant treatment with capecitabine in hopes it would reduce the chance of recurrence. Larry, however, died following a single treatment because he was not pre-screened for DPD deficiency. Read more: