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

The findings suggest that existing medications, including doxazosin, could be useful when combined with established treatments such as chemotherapy or immunotherapy.

From Science Daily

The Christmas card also marked another year in Catherine's gradual return to public life, as she continued her recovery from cancer and chemotherapy treatment.

From BBC

I completed six months of chemotherapy in September and am now in remission.

From The Wall Street Journal

Andrews was first diagnosed with stage three adrenal cancer in April 2023 and underwent chemotherapy, Luxe said.

From BBC

Optune Pax, a wearable device, is the first new treatment in decades for locally advanced pancreatic cancer, used with chemotherapy.

From Barron's

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