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
Examples of chemotherapy in a Sentence
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In addition to discussing her relationship with alcohol, Macpherson also detailed her breast cancer diagnosis and her decision to forego chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer.
—
Dayna Haffenden, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
The Prince and Princess of Wales have had a rocky 2024 after she was diagnosed with cancer and underwent chemotherapy treatment.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024
Kate Middleton is reportedly resuming her go-to workout routine after completing chemotherapy treatment.
—Janine Henni, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024
Public awareness of the harms caused by criminalizing marijuana grew, and so too did a movement to raise awareness about the medicinal benefits of its use, especially for chemotherapy and cancer parents, who found marijuana use helpful for combatting nausea.
—Marin Cogan, Vox, 4 Nov. 2024
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Dayna Haffenden, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
The Prince and Princess of Wales have had a rocky 2024 after she was diagnosed with cancer and underwent chemotherapy treatment.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024
Kate Middleton is reportedly resuming her go-to workout routine after completing chemotherapy treatment.
—Janine Henni, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024
Public awareness of the harms caused by criminalizing marijuana grew, and so too did a movement to raise awareness about the medicinal benefits of its use, especially for chemotherapy and cancer parents, who found marijuana use helpful for combatting nausea.
—Marin Cogan, Vox, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for chemotherapy
Dictionary Entries Near chemotherapy
Cite this Entry
“Chemotherapy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chemotherapy. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
adjective
-ˌther-ə-ˈpyüt-ik
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
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
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
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.
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