Cancer drug linked to fatal skin ailment

A drug used to treat advanced breast and colorectal cancers has been linked to potentially fatal skin reactions in some patients, says the medication’s manufacturer in an advisory from Health Canada. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. said Tuesday that severe skin reactions have been reported in patients taking the drug Xeloda. Severe skin reactions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, in some cases with a fatal outcome, have been reported during treatment with Xeloda, the company said.