Why is this site here?

Dihydropyrimidine Dehydrogenase (DPD) Deficiency...

Cheryl Britton was killed by her first chemotherapy treatment for colon cancer.  Fluorouracil (5-FU), Eloxatin and Wellcovorin were the drugs she was treated with.  5-FU was the culprit. Her first treatment was 18 December, 2007. She fought and finally lost her battle with the chemo drug on 3 January, 2008.

According to 2005 Centers For Disease Control statistics, approximately one hundred, forty-one thousand people per year are diagnosed with colon cancer. Fifty-three thousand died as a result of colon cancer. ¹

Several sources indicate DPD Deficiency affects from three to eight percent of the population.

Over 11 thousand people can expect to have some degree of DPD deficiency.  Unfortunately, this is not typically discovered until a cancer patient receives some form of 5-FU.

In its most severe from, the combination of the deficiency and 5-FU has a 33% mortality rate.  Over THREE THOUSAND people per year could be dying unnecessarily.

DPD Deficiency leads to lack of a critical enzyme needed to metabolize the drug 5-FU.  Under normal conditions, 80+ percent of a dose of 5-fu is quickly metabolized. Low or severe deficiency leads to the drug not being metabolized from the body. The drug lingers in the system, continuing to kill cells and the results are simply horrible to the patient and those witnessing the outcome.

Genetic testing is available but not part of the standard of care. If your treatment is going to include 5-FU, DEMAND TO BE TESTED. Pass along this information and do everything you can to make testing a standard part of the use of this dangerous drug.

Why is this site is here?  Hopefully a cancer patient, family member or friend will see it and and avoid what our family had to endure.