chemotherapy

noun

che·​mo·​ther·​a·​py ˌkē-mō-ˈther-ə-pē 

: the therapeutic use of chemical agents to treat disease

especially : the administration of one or more cytotoxic drugs to destroy or inhibit the growth and division of malignant cells in the treatment of cancer

Note: Chemotherapy may be used alone as a primary treatment or may be used before, after, or in conjunction with surgery or radiation.

called also chemo

chemotherapist

ˌkē-mō-ˈther-ə-pist 

noun

Examples of chemotherapy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This can help select patients who may benefit from chemotherapy. —Nathalie McDowell Johnson, STAT, 19 Sep. 2023

Even more rarely, the molar tissue develops into choriocarcinoma, a type of cancer that may require chemotherapy and other cancer-fighting drugs.2 Key Takeaways Hearing about molar pregnancies and their complications can be scary. —​wendy Wisner, Parents, 15 Sep. 2023

Today, Dana-Farber patients receive outpatient care, including chemotherapy infusions, at the institute, but are admitted for inpatient care to Brigham and Women’s — connected to Dana-Farber by a bridge. —Jessica Bartlett, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Sep. 2023

Anti-nausea effects: Delta-8 THC may help reduce nausea and vomiting, which can be particularly useful for individuals undergoing chemotherapy or those with gastrointestinal issues. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 9 Sep. 2023

While many suffered hair loss that was out of their control—whether from chemotherapy or alopecia or trichotillomania—just as many chose to wear a wig because of their religion, culture, or for cosmetic purposes. —Amanda Kabbabe, ELLE, 6 Sep. 2023

The deal will move Dana-Farber’s inpatient oncology care away from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, which has provided it since the mid-90s, after Boston Globe health columnist Betsy Lehman died of an overdose of chemotherapy drugs while undergoing treatment at Dana-Farber. —Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Sep. 2023

Hospitals that participate in a federal drug discount program, known as 340B, also are able to buy expensive chemotherapy drugs for cheap while still billing insurers full freight. —Bob Herman, STAT, 8 Sep. 2023

Other causes of Beau's lines include chemotherapy, eczema, injuries, malnutrition, or psoriasis.2 Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes red, thick patches of skin or silver scales.10 Diabetes and liver and lung disease may cause white or yellow nail discoloration. —Korin Miller, Health, 22 Aug. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Chemotherapie, from chemo- chemo- + Therapie therapy

Note: The German word Chemotherapie is strongly associated with Paul ehrlich, though it is uncertain if he is its originator. Ehrlich probably first used the word in print in the article "Chemotherapeutische Trypanosomen-Studien," Berliner klinische Wochenschrift, 44. Jahrgang, No. 9 (March 4, 1907), pp. 233-36 (along with the Latin equivalent chemotherapia in the phrase chemotherapia specifica). Ehrlich employed the word earlier, however, in an address read at the dedication of the Georg-Speyer-Haus in Frankfurt am Main on September 6, 1906. What appears to be a summary of the address was published as "Die Aufgaben der Chemotherapie" ("The Tasks of Chemotherapy") in the feuilleton section of the Frankfurter Zeitung und Handelsblatt, 51. Jahrgang, No. 244, September 4, 1906, p. 1. The full text of the address ("Ansprache bei Einweihung des Georg-Speyer-Hauses") was published for the first time in The Collected Papers of Paul Ehrlich, edited by F. Himmelweit, vol. III Chemotherapy (London, 1960), pp. 42-52.

First Known Use

1910, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

chemotherapy

noun

che·​mo·​ther·​a·​py ˌke-mō-ˈther-ə-pē 

: the use of chemical agents in the treatment or control of disease (as cancer)

chemotherapeutic

-ˌther-ə-ˈpyüt-ik

adjective

Medical Definition

chemotherapy

noun

che·​mo·​ther·​a·​py -ˈther-ə-pē 

plural chemotherapies

: the therapeutic use of chemical agents to treat disease

Pyrazinamide is one of the most important drugs in modern chemotherapy of tuberculosis …

—Max Salfinger et al., The Journal of the American Medical Association

especially : the administration of one or more cytotoxic drugs to destroy or inhibit the growth and division of malignant cells in the treatment of cancer

Cancer cells mutate at a furious rate, and they can evolve the means to resist most chemotherapy drugs, requiring higher and more toxic doses to achieve an effect.

—Shannon Brownlee and Nancy Shute, U.S. News & World Report

Neutropenia and infection are major dose-limiting side effects of chemotherapy.

—Jeffrey Crawford et al., The New England Journal of Medicine

called also chemo

Note: Chemotherapy may be used alone as a primary treatment or may be used before, after, or in conjunction with surgery or radiation.