Raciwel 500 Injection belongs to a group of anti-cancer medicines called 'antimetabolites' used to treat breast, colon, rectum, pancreatic and stomach/gastric cancer. Cancer is a disease in which cells divide uncontrollably. Cancer can be localized (benign) or spread to the whole body (metastasized). 

Raciwel 500 Injection contains 'Fluorouracil' that works by interfering with the growth of genetic material (DNA and RNA) of the cancer cells. This prevents the cancer cells from multiplying and growing and eventually kills them.

In some cases, Raciwel 500 Injection may cause nausea, vomiting, weakness, loss of appetite, increased risk of infection, hair loss, diarrhoea, decreased blood cells, and mouth ulcers. Most of these side effects do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects are persistent, reach out to your doctor.

Inform your doctor if you have a metabolic disorder called DPD (dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase) deficiency, heart problems, bone marrow depression, kidney disease, liver disease, or if you are on treatment with chemotherapy or radiation. Avoid taking Raciwel 500 Injection if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Both women and men on treatment with Raciwel 500 Injection should use birth control to avoid pregnancy. 

Raciwel 500 Injection belongs to a group of anti-cancer medicines called 'antimetabolites' used to treat breast, colon, rectum, pancreatic and stomach/gastric cancer. Raciwel 500 Injection contains 'Fluorouracil' that works by interfering with the growth of genetic material (DNA and RNA) of the cancer cells. This prevents the cancer cells from multiplying and growing and eventually kills them.

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Loss of appetite
• Increased risk of infection
• Hair loss
• Diarrhoea
• Decreased blood cells 
• Mouth ulcer

Inform your doctor if you have any infection, a metabolic disorder called DPD (dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase) deficiency, heart problems, bone marrow depression, kidney disease, liver disease, or if you are on treatment with chemotherapy or radiation. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant because Raciwel 500 Injection can cause harmful effects on the unborn baby. Women and men using Raciwel 500 Injection should use birth control to avoid pregnancy. The use of Raciwel 500 Injection by either parent may result in congenital disabilities. Raciwel 500 Injection should be used with caution in elderly patients. If you have had leukaemia (blood cancer) and are in remission, do not take live vaccines for three months after your last chemotherapy.

Drug-Drug Interactions: Raciwel 500 Injection interacts with other anti-cancer medicines (methotrexate, cisplatin, cytarabine, mitomycin-C, tamoxifen), antibiotics (metronidazole), medicines used to reduce the harmful effects of anti-cancer medicines (calcium leucovorin), a medicine used to treat gout (allopurinol), a medicine used to treat stomach ulcers (cimetidine), blood thinner (warfarin), antivirals (interferon-alpha 2a, brivudine, sorivudine), anti-epilepsy medicine (phenytoin), vaccines (rubella, mumps, measles, BCG, shingles).

Drug-Food Interactions: No interaction was found.

Drug-Disease Interactions: Inform your doctor if you have myelosuppression (bone marrow activity is decreased), dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) enzyme deficiency, stomatitis, infections, bleeding disorder or coronary artery disease.

• METHOTREXATE
• CISPLATIN
• CYTARABINE
• MITOMYCIN
• TAMOXIFEN
• METRONIDAZOLE
• ALLOPURINOL
• CIMETIDINE
• WARFARIN
• INTERFERON ALFA
• PHENYTOIN
• RUBELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED)
• MUMPS (LIVE ATTENUATED)
• MEASLES (LIVE ATTENUATED)
• BACILLUS CALMETTE-GUERIN(BCG) VACCINE
• SHINGLES VACCINE
• CALCIUM LEUCOVORIN
• BRIVUDINE
• SORIVUDINE

• Eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly to maintain proper weight.

• Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption.

• Include leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, fatty fish, berries, yoghurt, apples, peaches, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, beans, and herbs in your diet.

• Avoid fast food, fried food, processed meats, refined carbs and added sugars.

• Get optimal sleep, and rest well.

• Your doctor may suggest routine blood tests to monitor your liver function, electrolyte levels, and blood cell count.

• Consult a doctor immediately if you notice any signs of infection, fever, diarrhoea, chills, etc.

• Women of childbearing potential and men with partners of childbearing potential must use an effective method of contraception while on treatment with Raciwel 500 Injection and for at least three months afterwards. Please consult your doctor for any concerns regarding this.

Breast cancer: It is a type of cancer that develops in breast cells stimulated by a female sex hormone called oestrogen. Breast cancer may form in lobules (glands that produce milk), ducts of the breast (the pathway that brings milk from glands to the nipple), and the fatty tissue or the fibrous connective tissue within the breast. The tumour cells invade other healthy breast cells and travel to lymph nodes, a primary pathway for the cancer cells to move to other body parts. Symptoms of breast cancer include a lump in the breast or tissue thickening, which feels different than the normal surrounding tissues, breast pain, redness, swelling, and nipple discharge other than breast milk.

Stomach Cancer (gastric cancer): It is a type of cancer that develops from the stomach lining. Risk factors may include smoking, a highly processed or salty diet, and severe bacterial infection of H. pylori.  Symptoms of stomach cancer include feeling bloated after eating, feeling full after eating small amounts of food, nausea, heartburn or indigestion.