5-fluorouracil/5-FU: 6 things to know about this common chemotherapy drug
Last updated Monday, April 13, 2026.
5-fluorouracil (pronounced “flure-oh-YOOR-ah-sill”), or 5-FU for short, is a well-established chemotherapy drug that interferes with a specific phase of cell development. It is used to treat many different cancers.
Keep reading to learn how it is administered, which forms it comes in and what side effects to expect.
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