chemotherapy

American  

[kee-moh-ther-uh-pee, kem-oh-] / ˌki moʊˈθɛr ə pi, ˌkɛm oʊ- /

noun

Medicine/Medical.

1. the treatment of disease by means of chemicals that have a specific toxic effect upon the disease-producing microorganisms or that selectively destroy cancerous tissue.

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chemotherapy British  

/ kiːmə-, ˌkiːməʊˈθɛrəpɪ /

noun

1. treatment of disease, esp cancer, by means of chemical agents Compare radiotherapy

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chemotherapy Scientific  

/ kē′mō-thĕr′ə-pē /

1. The treatment of disease, especially cancer, using drugs that are destructive to malignant cells and tissues.

2. The treatment of disease using chemical agents or drugs that are selectively toxic to the causative agent of the disease, such as a microorganism.

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chemotherapy Cultural  

1. The treatment of disease with chemicals. The term chemotherapy often refers to a kind of treatment for cancer in which chemicals are administered to destroy cancer cells.

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Discover More

There are often side effects to chemotherapy, a common one being the temporary loss of hair.

Other Word Forms

• chemotherapist noun

Etymology

Origin of chemotherapy

First recorded in 1905–10; chemo- + therapy

Example Sentences

Even short exposure to the bacterium increased levels of a protein called PKcs, which was linked to greater cancer cell movement, invasion, stem-like traits, and resistance to chemotherapy.

From Science Daily

The study also found that certain chemotherapy drugs were more effective in tumor samples with FBXW7 mutations.

From Science Daily

He later founded APP Pharmaceuticals, a maker of blood thinner heparin, and Abraxis BioScience, where he created breakthrough chemotherapy drug Abraxane.

From The Wall Street Journal

She started a fresh round of chemotherapy last week.

From BBC

The piece has eight sections, representing eight rounds of chemotherapy.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bomber