Health Information

Fluorouracil (5-FU) for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer

What To Think About

Applying 5-FU on skin almost always causes pain and a burning feeling. This may make it hard to tell if you are having an allergic reaction to the medicine or if the medicine is working as expected.

Your skin may be sensitive to sunlight during your treatment with 5-FU. So you will need to protect your skin from the sun.

People treated with 5-FU will need to have regular follow-up visits with their doctors to make sure the skin cancer is gone.

Taking medicine

Medicine is one of the many tools your doctor has to treat a health problem. Taking medicine as your doctor suggests will improve your health and may prevent future problems. If you don't take your medicines properly, you may be putting your health (and perhaps your life) at risk.

There are many reasons why people have trouble taking their medicine. But in most cases, there is something you can do. For suggestions on how to work around common problems, see the topic Reference Taking Medicines as Prescribed.

Advice for women

Do not use this medicine if you are pregnant, breast-feeding, or planning to get pregnant. If you need to use this medicine, talk to your doctor about how you can prevent pregnancy.

Checkups

Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.

Complete the new medication information form (PDF) (What is a Reference PDF Opens New Window document?) to help you understand this medication.

By:	Reference Healthwise Staff	Last Revised: October 2, 2012
Medical Review:	Reference E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Reference Amy McMichael, MD - Dermatology