chemotherapy
gb/kˌimoʊθˈɛɹəpi/ us/kˌimoʊθˈɛɹəpi/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
technical
C1
process
1
cancer treatment with drugs
drug treatment for cancer
Usage pattern:
chemotherapy for [cancer/condition]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse chemotherapy (drug treatment) with radiotherapy (treatment using radiation).
Synonyms
chemo (Informal shortened form, common in conversation.)
|
anticancer drug therapy (More explicit and formal; used in medical contexts.)
Collocations
have chemotherapy
|get chemotherapy
|receive chemotherapy
|undergo chemotherapy
|start chemotherapy
|finish chemotherapy
|chemotherapy treatment
|chemotherapy drugs
|chemotherapy side effects
|chemotherapy patient
Themes
health
|medicine
|cancer
|hospital
Examples
- After the surgery, she began chemotherapy to reduce the risk of the cancer returning.
- The doctor explained the likely side effects of chemotherapy, including nausea and fatigue.
- He took time off work while he was having chemotherapy.
Learner examples
- My aunt is having chemotherapy.
- Chemotherapy can make you feel very tired.
Noun
technical
C1
event
2
a period of chemo treatment
a planned set of chemo treatments
Usage pattern:
a course of chemotherapy; [number] cycles of chemotherapy
Common mistake:
Chemotherapy is usually uncountable; for a set of treatments, use expressions like 'a course of chemotherapy' or 'cycles of chemotherapy' rather than 'a chemotherapy'.
Synonyms
chemo course (Informal, often used by patients and families.)
|
chemotherapy regimen (More medical; emphasizes the planned combination and timing.)
Collocations
a course of chemotherapy
|a round of chemotherapy
|chemotherapy cycles
|six cycles of chemotherapy
|chemotherapy schedule
|chemotherapy regimen
|complete chemotherapy
|continue chemotherapy
Themes
health
|medicine
|cancer
Examples
- She completed a six-month course of chemotherapy.
- The scan was done halfway through his chemotherapy to check whether the treatment was working.
- They adjusted the chemotherapy schedule because of low white blood cell counts.
Learner examples
- He has two more cycles of chemotherapy.
- She finished her course of chemotherapy last week.
Noun
technical
C2
process
3
drug treatment for disease
treatment using drugs (general sense)
Usage pattern:
chemotherapy for [disease/infection]
Common mistake:
In everyday English, 'chemotherapy' almost always refers to cancer treatment, not general drug treatment.
Synonyms
drug therapy (Broader and much more common; not specific to chemotherapy.)
|
pharmacotherapy (More technical term for treatment with medicines.)
Collocations
systemic chemotherapy
|local chemotherapy
|chemotherapy agent
|chemotherapy with [drug name]
Themes
health
|medicine
|science
Examples
- In older medical writing, the term chemotherapy could refer to drug treatment for infectious diseases.
- The paper compared chemotherapy with other drug-based approaches in experimental models.
Grammar
Dictionary form
chemotherapy
IPA
GB/kˌimoʊθˈɛɹəpi/
US/kˌimoʊθˈɛɹəpi/
Syllables & stress
chemo - ther - apy (3 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (apy)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: chemotherapy
- Plural: chemotherapies, chemotherapy
Word family
Forms
chemotherapies
noun
Core family
chemo
noun
chemotherapeutic
adjective
Related words
Expressions
chemotherapy drugs
1/kˌimoʊθˈɛɹəpi dɹˈʌɡz/
fixed phrase
technical
medicines used in chemo
medicines used for chemotherapy
Examples
- Some chemotherapy drugs can affect fertility.
- The nurse explained how the chemotherapy drugs would be given.
chemotherapy regimen
1/kˌimoʊθˈɛɹəpi ɹˈɛd͡ʒɪmɪn/
fixed phrase
technical
planned chemo drug schedule
a plan for chemo treatment
Examples
- The oncologist recommended a different chemotherapy regimen because of the side effects.
- Her chemotherapy regimen includes two drugs given in alternating cycles.
chemotherapy session
1/kˌimoʊθˈɛɹəpi sˈɛʃən/
fixed phrase
one visit for chemo
one appointment for chemotherapy
Examples
- Her chemotherapy session lasted about three hours.
- He felt sick after each chemotherapy session.
chemotherapy side effects
1/kˌimoʊθˈɛɹəpi sˈaɪd ɪfˈɛkts/
fixed phrase
unwanted effects of chemo
bad effects caused by chemotherapy
Examples
- They gave her medication to help with chemotherapy side effects.
- Fatigue is one of the most common chemotherapy side effects.
receive chemotherapy
1/ɹɪsˈiv kˌimoʊθˈɛɹəpi/
fixed phrase
be given chemo treatment
to get chemotherapy
Examples
- He receives chemotherapy every two weeks at the cancer center.
- Patients may receive chemotherapy through an IV line.
- She received chemotherapy before surgery.
undergo chemotherapy
1/ˌʌndɚɡˈoʊ kˌimoʊθˈɛɹəpi/
fixed phrase
formal
have chemo as treatment
to have chemotherapy
Examples
- She had to undergo chemotherapy after the tumor was removed.
- Many patients undergo chemotherapy as outpatients.
- He underwent chemotherapy for three months.