Chemotherapeutic

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Chemotherapeutic (kee-moh-thuh-RAH-pew-tik)

Chemotherapeutic is a term used in the field of medicine to describe a type of drug or treatment that uses chemicals to kill cancer cells in the body.

Etymology

The term "chemotherapeutic" is derived from the Greek words "chemia" meaning "chemistry" and "therapeia" meaning "treatment". It was first used in the early 20th century to describe the use of chemicals to treat disease.

Related Terms

  • Chemotherapy: The use of chemotherapeutic drugs to treat cancer.
  • Cytotoxic: Referring to a substance or process that kills cells.
  • Oncology: The study of cancer and its treatment.
  • Antineoplastic: Another term for chemotherapeutic, referring to substances that prevent the growth and spread of cancer cells.
  • Cancer: A group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells.

Usage

Chemotherapeutic drugs are used in the treatment of various types of cancer, including breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, and leukemia. They work by interfering with the cancer cell's ability to grow and reproduce.

There are many different types of chemotherapeutic drugs, each with its own mechanism of action and side effects. Some common types include alkylating agents, antimetabolites, antitumor antibiotics, and topoisomerase inhibitors.

Chemotherapeutic treatments can be administered in several ways, including orally, intravenously, or through a catheter or port. The method of administration depends on the type of drug and the type of cancer being treated.

See Also

External links

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