Normal side effects are not the same as a toxic reaction.^1-7

Understand the difference and protect yourself.

Signs of a toxic reaction to chemotherapy can be mistaken for normal side effects, but they are very different and may result in serious and life-threatening consequences.^1-5

What do normal side effects feel like?^{3, 6, 7}

Normal side effects usually begin a week or so after the end of 5-FU infusion or capecitabine treatment
Symptoms associated with normal side effects are considered to be mild to moderate, which means that they feel less intense and occur less frequently
Normal side effects feel uncomfortable but should also feel manageable

What do dangerous toxic reactions feel like?^1-11

Dangerous toxic reactions usually begin early, during or within a couple days after the first or second round of 5-FU infusion or capecitabine treatment
Symptoms of a toxic reaction are considered to be severe which means that they feel intense and occur more frequently than normal side effects
Symptoms of a toxic reaction feel debilitating or unbearable

Get the facts on chemotherapy toxicity

Download the Colon Cancer
Alliance Fact Sheet

What are the signs of a toxic reaction?^1-11

Dangerous toxic reactions that require immediate attention can occur during the first or second round of 5-FU infusion or capecitabine dosing. Side effects can quickly become severe.
Learn the difference between normal and severe toxic side effects here.

What are the signs of a toxic reaction?^1-4

Dangerous toxic reactions that require immediate attention can occur during the first or second round of 5-FU infusion or capecitabine dosing. Side effects can quickly become severe.

Learn the difference between normal and severe toxic side effects here.

Brain and nervous system problems

5-FU or capecitabine toxicity can affect your brain function and central nervous system, including:

Dizziness
Confusion
Lack of coordination
Seizure
Coma

Normal mucositis (mouth sores)

Ulcerations or sores cause mild to moderate pain and discomfort that is considered tolerable and does not limit normal functions such as eating, drinking and swallowing.

Severe mucositis

In people experiencing 5-FU or capecitabine toxicity, these ulcerations or sores cause severe pain and discomfort that is considered intolerable and significantly limits normal functions such as eating, drinking and swallowing.

Mucositis (Myewk-o-site-us) is the name of a condition that occurs when chemotherapy causes the mucous membranes that line the digestive tract to become inflamed. The most common symptom of mucositis is the appearance of ulcerations (sores) in the mouth and throat.⁵

Other normal side effects may include:

Sensitivity to light
Hair thinning or loss
Nail changes
Darkening of the skin

Heart problems

5-FU or capecitabine toxicity can affect heart function. Symptoms can include:

Chest pain
Heart attack
Irregular heart beat
Heart failure

Normal nausea

Mild to moderate nausea creates discomfort with a feeling of upset stomach that may be described as queasiness.

Severe nausea

In people experiencing 5-FU or capecitabine toxicity, nausea is severe and may cause them to stop eating or drinking.

Nausea is the uncomfortable feeling of an upset stomach that may be described as queasiness or stomach cramping⁶

Normal vomiting

Vomiting that happens less than 3 to 5 times daily is considered to be a common, mild to moderate reaction to chemotherapy.

Severe vomiting

In people experiencing 5-FU or capecitabine toxicity, vomiting is severe and occurs 6 or more times per day.

Normal diarrhea

Mild to moderate symptoms of diarrhea include abdominal or lower stomach pain and frequent bowel movements (up to 5 or 6 times a day) that produce loose, water stool.

Severe diarrhea

In people experiencing 5-FU or capecitabine toxicity, diarrhea is severe occurring up to 6 times or more per day.

Hand-and-foot syndrome (only for patients taking capecitabine)

Hand-and-foot syndrome is a common side effect of chemotherapy containing capecitabine.

Mild to moderate symptoms include:

Redness and mild tenderness on palms
of hands and soles of the feet

Severe hand-and-foot syndrome
(for capecitabine only)

Severe pain, blisters, bleeding, and
peeling that make performing daily
activities difficult

Are you being treated with 5-FU or capecitabine chemotherapy?^5-8

5-FU (5-fluorouracil) is a chemotherapy medicine that is given to people with breast, colorectal (bowel), gastric (stomach), and pancreatic cancer.⁶
Capecitabine is a chemotherapy medicine given to people with breast and colorectal cancer.⁷
5-FU and capecitabine may be given alone or in combination with other chemotherapy drugs, such as these*.
- FOLFOX
- FOLFIRI
- FLOX
- CapeOX
- XELOX

*This is not a complete list of chemotherapy combinations that include 5-FU or capecitabine.

Trusted chemotherapy with common side effects^{6, 7}

5-FU and capecitabine are trusted chemotherapies received by thousands of patients with a history of success.

Normal side effects are not the same as a toxic reaction.^1-7

Understand the difference and protect yourself.

Signs of a toxic reaction to chemotherapy can be mistaken for normal side effects, but they are very different and may result in serious and life-threatening consequences.^1-5

What do normal side effects feel like?^{3, 6, 7}

What do dangerous toxic reactions feel like?^1-11

Get the facts on chemotherapy toxicity

Download the Colon Cancer
Alliance Fact Sheet

What are the signs of a toxic reaction?^1-11

Dangerous toxic reactions that require immediate attention can occur during the first or second round of 5-FU infusion or capecitabine dosing. Side effects can quickly become severe.
Learn the difference between normal and severe toxic side effects here.

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What are the signs of a toxic reaction?^1-4

Learn the difference between normal and severe toxic side effects here.

Brain and nervous system problems

Brain and nervous system problems

Normal mucositis (mouth sores)

Normal mucositis (mouth sores)

Severe mucositis

Other normal side effects may include:

Other normal side effects may include:

Heart problems

Heart problems

Normal nausea

Normal nausea

Severe nausea

Normal vomiting

Normal vomiting

Severe vomiting

Normal diarrhea

Normal diarrhea

Severe diarrhea

Hand-and-foot syndrome (only for patients taking capecitabine)

Hand-and-foot syndrome (only for patients taking capecitabine)

Mild to moderate symptoms include:

Severe hand-and-foot syndrome
(for capecitabine only)

Are you being treated with 5-FU or capecitabine chemotherapy?^5-8

Trusted chemotherapy with common side effects^{6, 7}

Toxic reactions can cause serious effects such as heart attack, heart failure, seizure, and coma.^{4, 10, 16-18}

Vistogard® is the first and only fast acting emergency treatment for 5-FU and capecitabine toxicity.^{1, 2, 19}

You are now leaving the patient site.

Normal side effects are not the same as a toxic reaction.1-7

Understand the difference and protect yourself.

Signs of a toxic reaction to chemotherapy can be mistaken for normal side effects, but they are very different and may result in serious and life-threatening consequences.1-5

What do normal side effects feel like? 3, 6, 7

What do dangerous toxic reactions feel like? 1-11

Get the facts on chemotherapy toxicity

What are the signs of a toxic reaction? 1-11

Dangerous toxic reactions that require immediate attention can occur during the first or second round of 5-FU infusion or capecitabine dosing. Side effects can quickly become severe. Learn the difference between normal and severe toxic side effects here.

{[name]}

{[name2]}

What are the signs of a toxic reaction?1-4

Learn the difference between normal and severe toxic side effects here.

Brain and nervous system problems

Normal mucositis (mouth sores)

Severe mucositis

Other normal side effects may include:

Heart problems

Normal nausea

Severe nausea

Normal vomiting

Severe vomiting

Normal diarrhea

Severe diarrhea

Hand-and-foot syndrome (only for patients taking capecitabine)

Mild to moderate symptoms include:

Severe hand-and-foot syndrome (for capecitabine only)

Are you being treated with 5-FU or capecitabine chemotherapy?5-8

Trusted chemotherapy with common side effects 6, 7

Toxic reactions can cause serious effects such as heart attack, heart failure, seizure, and coma. 4, 10, 16-18

Vistogard® is the first and only fast acting emergency treatment for 5-FU and capecitabine toxicity.1, 2, 19

You are now leaving the patient site.

Normal side effects are not the same as a toxic reaction.^1-7

Signs of a toxic reaction to chemotherapy can be mistaken for normal side effects, but they are very different and may result in serious and life-threatening consequences.^1-5

What do normal side effects feel like?^{3, 6, 7}

What do dangerous toxic reactions feel like?^1-11

What are the signs of a toxic reaction?^1-11

Dangerous toxic reactions that require immediate attention can occur during the first or second round of 5-FU infusion or capecitabine dosing. Side effects can quickly become severe.
Learn the difference between normal and severe toxic side effects here.

What are the signs of a toxic reaction?^1-4

Severe hand-and-foot syndrome
(for capecitabine only)

Are you being treated with 5-FU or capecitabine chemotherapy?^5-8

Trusted chemotherapy with common side effects^{6, 7}

Toxic reactions can cause serious effects such as heart attack, heart failure, seizure, and coma.^{4, 10, 16-18}

Vistogard® is the first and only fast acting emergency treatment for 5-FU and capecitabine toxicity.^{1, 2, 19}