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

/ ˌkiːməʊˈθɛrəpɪ; kiːmə- /

noun

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

chemotherapy

/ 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.

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 .

Notes

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

Derived Forms

• ˌchemoˈtherapist, noun

Other Words From

• chemo·thera·pist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of chemotherapy¹

First recorded in 1905–10; chemo- + therapy

Example Sentences

His innovations in the use of chemotherapy proved even more revolutionary.

From Washington Post

One approach might be trying to time vaccination “in between cycles of chemotherapy, if possible,” said Catherine Liu, a professor in the vaccine and infectious-disease division at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle.

From Washington Post

She has received two rounds of chemotherapy and is now going through immunotherapy while participating in the singalongs.

From Washington Post

The governor also announced he would again broaden the pool of eligible residents starting Monday to include severely immunocompromised people, such as those undergoing chemotherapy.

From Washington Post

Dialysis and chemotherapy patients struggled as hospitals got overburdened.

From Quartz

With chemotherapy, her doctors give her at least an 80 percent chance of survival.

From The Daily Beast

Cassandra, whose hair has already begun to fall out from her court-mandated chemotherapy, could face a similar outcome.

From The Daily Beast

Men and women who become infertile as a result of chemotherapy could also regain their reproductive capabilities.

From The Daily Beast

Carol was strong-willed and energetic—she continued teaching and running marathons well into her chemotherapy.

From The Daily Beast

Others, she says, wait until their 84th round of chemotherapy.

From The Daily Beast

Physical conditioning, systems of exercise, experimentation in chemotherapy are still being undertaken.

From Project Gutenberg

Whether chemotherapy will ever profit from a knowledge of such chemical relationships remains to be developed.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bomber