• Introduction
Fluorouracil (or 5-FU) is an antineoplastic/cytotoxic (anti-cancer) chemotherapy drug used in the treatment of many type of cancers – The main one being bowel, or colorectal, cancer. As 5-FU has cured many people worldwide of bowel cancer, there are some side-effects that can affect the patient. This particular type of chemotherapy drug comes in several different forms to suit all stages of life who are affected with different types of cancer. (chemocare.com, 2015)
• How Cancer is Formed in the Bowel
Cancer cells are formed when they lose the ability to control cell division. “Normal” cells divide and stop growing – This is a mechanism “normal” cells have, called contact inhibition. However, cancerous cells replicate and do not stop …show more content…
Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer or colon cancer, is cancer that affects the colon (or large intestine) and rectum. It usually grows very slowly over a period of 10 years.
Bowel cancer can occur in men and in women. Almost 2,500 Irish people are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year. It is also the second most common cause of cancer death in Ireland.
Bowel cancer starts off as innocent benign growths on the wall of the bowel. They look like small spots or cherries on stalks and do not have any symptoms usually.
If left undetected, the cancer cells will multiply to form a tumour in the bowel, causing pain and/or lump in the abdomen area, bleeding from the rectum and in stools, unexplained weight-loss and tiredness/dizziness/breathlessness.
The causes of bowel cancer can sometimes be due to excessive intake of alcohol and smoking, one’s lifestyle (such as bad diet and no exercise), obesity and if there is family history of bowel cancer or other bowel related issues in the past. Age may now also be an issue relating to bowel cancer - although this type of cancer is increasing in the younger age groups, more than 7 out of 10 people (72%) diagnosed with bowel cancer are aged 65 and
Fluorouracil (or 5-FU) is an antineoplastic/cytotoxic (anti-cancer) chemotherapy drug used in the treatment of many type of cancers – The main one being bowel, or colorectal, cancer. As 5-FU has cured many people worldwide of bowel cancer, there are some side-effects that can affect the patient. This particular type of chemotherapy drug comes in several different forms to suit all stages of life who are affected with different types of cancer. (chemocare.com, 2015)
• How Cancer is Formed in the Bowel
Cancer cells are formed when they lose the ability to control cell division. “Normal” cells divide and stop growing – This is a mechanism “normal” cells have, called contact inhibition. However, cancerous cells replicate and do not stop …show more content…
Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer or colon cancer, is cancer that affects the colon (or large intestine) and rectum. It usually grows very slowly over a period of 10 years.
Bowel cancer can occur in men and in women. Almost 2,500 Irish people are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year. It is also the second most common cause of cancer death in Ireland.
Bowel cancer starts off as innocent benign growths on the wall of the bowel. They look like small spots or cherries on stalks and do not have any symptoms usually.
If left undetected, the cancer cells will multiply to form a tumour in the bowel, causing pain and/or lump in the abdomen area, bleeding from the rectum and in stools, unexplained weight-loss and tiredness/dizziness/breathlessness.
The causes of bowel cancer can sometimes be due to excessive intake of alcohol and smoking, one’s lifestyle (such as bad diet and no exercise), obesity and if there is family history of bowel cancer or other bowel related issues in the past. Age may now also be an issue relating to bowel cancer - although this type of cancer is increasing in the younger age groups, more than 7 out of 10 people (72%) diagnosed with bowel cancer are aged 65 and