Fluorouracil

Chemical name: Fluorouracil, also called 5-fluorouracil or 5-FU

Brand name: Adrucil

Class: Antimetabolite chemotherapy. Gemzar, methotrexate, and Xeloda are other antimetabolites.

How it works: Antimetabolites kill cancer cells by acting as false building blocks in a cancer cell's genes, causing the cancer cell to die as it gets ready to divide.

Uses: Fluorouracil often is used in combination with other chemotherapy medicines to treat:

• early-stage breast cancer after surgery and other treatments
• advanced-stage breast cancer

How it's given: Flourouracil is given intravenously.

Side effects:

• diarrhea
• nausea
• vomiting
• mouth sores
• loss of appetite
• vision or eye problems
• taste changes, metallic taste in mouth during infusion
• low white blood cell count
• hand-foot syndrome
• irregular periods -- this can include temporary cessation (usually resume after medication is completed) or permanent cessation of menstrual periods depending on your age and other factors