radiotherapy

[rey-dee-oh-ther-uh-pee]

noun

Medicine/Medical.

1. treatment of disease by means of x-rays or of radioactive substances.

radiotherapy

/ ˌreɪdɪəʊˈθɛrəpɪ, ˌreɪdɪəʊˌθɛrəˈpjuːtɪk /

noun

1. the treatment of disease, esp cancer, by means of alpha or beta particles emitted from an implanted or ingested radioisotope, or by means of a beam of high-energy radiation Compare chemotherapy

Other Word Forms

• radiotherapist noun
• radiotherapeutic adjective
• radiotherapeutically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of radiotherapy¹

First recorded in 1900–05; radio- + therapy

Example Sentences

The set designer also underwent radiotherapy, which left her with burns on her body and chemotherapy, which caused severe nausea.

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Ms Ross said she underwent six rounds of chemotherapy, a double mastectomy and radiotherapy.

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Ms Hughes will now undergo courses of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

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He has since been given chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone treatment but cannot be cured.

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Rob Caunter, who finally retired from the fish market this year, is just finishing his radiotherapy treatment for prostate cancer.

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