Oncura

Mitomycin + 5-FU: what to expect, day by day

Anal28-day cycle4 effects documented

Chemotherapy given together with radiation to treat anal cancer without surgery. Blood counts drop later than usual (around week 4), and the radiation causes skin soreness and bowel changes in the treated area.

Mitomycin + continuous-infusion 5-FU given WITH radiation (chemoradiation, Nigro-type protocol) for anal cancer. Two features stand out: mitomycin's blood-count drop is DELAYED (nadir around 4 weeks), and radiation adds skin and bowel effects in the treated area.

Get help straight away — this is true on any regimen, on any day.

A temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher during treatment can mean a serious infection while your blood counts are low. Call your team or go to the ER — do not wait it out.

Also urgent: trouble breathing or chest pain · swelling of the face, lips or throat · new confusion or fainting · shaking chills · not being able to keep fluids down.

This is standing guidance shown to everyone. Nothing on this page is based on anything about you, and nobody is monitoring you.

Timed to the cycle

Day 1 is the day of your infusion. These are the effects a retrievable document ties to a day range for this regimen — not a prediction about you.

Myelosuppression (delayed nadir)

Typically around days 9–56

Drops in white cells and platelets that come LATER than with most chemo — the low point is often around 4 weeks and can be prolonged. Your team checks counts well beyond the treatment days.

Call your team urgently: A temperature of 100.4°F (38.0°C) or higher — an emergency.

reported by about ~60% of people; severe in ~25-40% · Timing from the manufacturer’s prescribing information · from Mitomycin, Fluorouracil

Not tied to a cycle day

These build with the number of doses, or are measured from when treatment started, so a cycle day would be the wrong shape for them. Each keeps the timing its own source states.

Radiation dermatitis (treated area)

builds through radiation; peaks near/after the end

The skin around the anus/groin can become red, sore, and peel during and shortly after radiation — chemo makes it more intense. Gentle skin care as directed helps; it heals over weeks after radiation ends.

Call your team: Open, weeping, or infected-looking skin, or pain that isn't controlled.

reported by about ~70% of people; severe in ~30-45% · from Radiation

Diarrhea / bowel irritation

builds through radiation

Radiation to the pelvis plus 5-FU commonly causes diarrhea, urgency, and cramping. Anti-diarrheal medicine, hydration, and diet changes help; tell your team if it's severe.

Call your team: More than 6 stools above normal in a day, or any with dizziness/fever.

reported by about ~50% of people; severe in ~10-20% · from Radiation, Fluorouracil

Nausea

Sickness in the first 24 hours is the "acute" phase and usually peaks 2-3 hours in; anything from 24 to 120 hours is the "delayed" phase.

Usually mild-moderate and controlled with anti-nausea medicine.

reported by about ~40% of people · Timing from a clinical guideline · from Fluorouracil, Mitomycin

Where this comes from

  1. S1. Mitomycin FDA prescribing information — FDA label
  2. S2. Ajani JA, RTOG 98-11 (5-FU/mitomycin chemoradiation, anal) (2008) — PMID 18430910
  3. S3. Fluorouracil (5-FU) FDA prescribing information — FDA label

Timing windows on this page rest on:

A window appears here only where a retrievable document ties it to a drug in this regimen. Where nothing could be found, the window was removed rather than estimated — so a missing time is an honest gap, not an oversight.

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