Capecitabine and the Bowel Battle: Addressing Diarrhea in Gastrointestinal Cancers - A Pakistan Perspective

Abstract

Cancer continues to be a global health challenge, and gastrointestinal malignancies significantly burden healthcare systems worldwide, including in Pakistan. Among the various treatment options available for gastrointestinal cancers, capecitabine, an oral chemotherapeutic agent, has shown promising results. However, its effectiveness comes with a potential side effect that poses a considerable challenge to both patients and healthcare providers - capecitabine-induced diarrhea. In the context of Pakistan's healthcare landscape, where access to specialized cancer care can be limited, addressing this issue becomes a critical aspect of ensuring better patient outcomes¹.