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

If the 20th century belonged to antibiotics and chemotherapy, the 21st may belong to viral vectors—a development that promises to fight disease by erasing it at its genetic root.

From The Wall Street Journal

Schlossberg described the treatments she received, including chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant, but shared that doctors did not give her a good prognosis.

From BBC

After chemotherapy and years of follow-up tests, the experience deepened his desire to better understand patients.

From Barron's

The 82-year-old, known for a string of hits including Copacabana, Could It Be Magic and Mandy, said doctors do not believe it has spread and he will not need chemotherapy or radiation.

From BBC

She was already so poorly when she received her diagnosis at the Christie, she ended up in the critical care unit on the first night and was given chemotherapy straight away.

From BBC

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