chemotherapy

[kee-moh-ther-uh-pee, kem-oh-]

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.

chemotherapy

/ kiːmə-, ˌkiːməʊˈθɛrəpɪ /

noun

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

chemotherapy

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.

chemotherapy

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.

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

Other Word Forms

• chemotherapist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of chemotherapy¹

First recorded in 1905–10; chemo- + therapy

Example Sentences

Rather than carpet-bomb cancer with chemotherapy and radiation, oncologists are deploying the pharmaceutical equivalent of drones and precision missiles.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In hospital it was discovered he had tumours on his brain and spine and he remained there for five months for treatment, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

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She spoke of her relief at completing her course of chemotherapy in September 2024, and revealed this year in January that she is in remission from cancer.

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Barzilay went through chemotherapy, recovered and began to think about how her background in computer science could help other patients.

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Over in the chemotherapy ward there are more steps being taken to ease capacity issues.

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Related Words

• bomber