What does chemo mean?
Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses chemicals to destroy cancer cells. It is often used in combination with other treatments, such as surgery and radiation therapy. Chemotherapy can be administered orally, intravenously, or through other routes. The goal of chemotherapy is to kill cancer cells and prevent them from growing and spreading. Chemotherapy can have side effects, such as nausea, fatigue, and hair loss, but it can be an effective treatment for many types of cancer. Chemotherapy is typically used to treat cancers that have spread to multiple parts of the body or that are at high risk of recurrence. It is often used in conjunction with other treatments, such as hormone therapy and targeted therapy.
noun
Chemotherapy is the treatment of disease by means of chemicals, especially the use of cytotoxic drugs to destroy cancer cells.
- 1. The treatment of disease by means of chemicals, especially the use of cytotoxic drugs to destroy cancer cells.
"She underwent chemotherapy to treat her breast cancer."
"She underwent chemotherapy to treat her breast cancer."
"He received chemotherapy to treat his leukemia."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of chemo
The word 'chemo' comes from the Greek word 'chemia', meaning 'chemical', and the suffix '-therapy', meaning 'treatment'. The term 'chemotherapy' was first used in the early 20th century to describe the use of chemicals to treat disease.
Usage notes
Chemotherapy is often used to treat cancers that have spread to multiple parts of the body or that are at high risk of recurrence. It can be administered orally, intravenously, or through other routes. Chemotherapy can have side effects, such as nausea, fatigue, and hair loss, but it can be an effective treatment for many types of cancer.