How a Simple Genetic Test Could Stop Chemo from Killing You | Karen Merritt

This is GENETICS FOR HEALTHCARE—a podcast dedicated to helping patients and caregivers advocate for precision medicine in treatment, survivorship, disease screening, and prevention. #geneticsforhealthcare

(Episode trigger warning: Descriptions of severe medical trauma.)

In this powerful episode, Karen shares:

- Why thousands of cancer patients are being poisoned because DPYD testing isn’t standard in the U.S.—unlike Europe.

- How underreporting of adverse events masks the true death toll from excessive toxicity. Many fatalities are not accurately noted because patients aren’t being tested.

- The shocking financial cost of ignoring this test—half a million dollars wasted on one preventable death.

- A recent victory: The FDA updated safety labels for fluoropyrimidines, but most doctors still don’t know D ...