Radiotherapy: meaning, definitions and examples
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radiotherapy
[ ˌreɪdiəʊˈθɛrəpi ]
medical treatment
Radiotherapy is a treatment for cancer that uses high-energy radiation to destroy cancer cells. It can be used on its own or in combination with surgery or chemotherapy.
Synonyms
radiation therapy, radiation treatment.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| radiotherapy |
This is a duplicate term and is identical to the first entry referencing the use of radiation to treat medical conditions, commonly cancer. Usage and examples are the same as for 'radiotherapy'.
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| radiation therapy |
This term is used interchangeably with radiotherapy but is more descriptive about the type of treatment. It can be used in both professional medical environments and by laypeople to describe the treatment.
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| radiation treatment |
This term is a more general way to describe any form of medical treatment that involves radiation. It can be understood by both medical professionals and the general public.
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Examples of usage
- His doctor recommended radiotherapy to treat the tumor.
- She underwent radiotherapy after her surgery.
oncology
Radiotherapy is a common form of cancer treatment that aims to shrink tumors and kill cancer cells.
Synonyms
radiation therapy, radiation treatment.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| radiotherapy |
Commonly used in medical contexts within Europe and many parts of the world to describe the treatment of disease, particularly cancer, using radiation.
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| radiation therapy |
Frequently used in the United States and generally refers to the medical treatment involving the use of high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells.
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| radiation treatment |
Typically used in conversation and less formal medical settings to describe the use of radiation as a treatment method for diseases, especially cancer.
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Examples of usage
- The patient's radiotherapy sessions lasted for six weeks.
- The side effects of radiotherapy can include fatigue and skin irritation.
Translations
Translations of the word "radiotherapy" in other languages:
🇵🇹 radioterapia
🇮🇳 रेडियोथेरेपी
🇩🇪 Strahlentherapie
🇮🇩 radioterapi
🇺🇦 радіотерапія
🇵🇱 radioterapia
🇯🇵 放射線治療 (ほうしゃせんちりょう)
🇫🇷 radiothérapie
🇪🇸 radioterapia
🇹🇷 radyoterapi
🇰🇷 방사선 치료 (방사선 치료)
🇸🇦 العلاج الإشعاعي
🇨🇿 radioterapie
🇸🇰 rádioterapia
🇨🇳 放射治疗 (fàngshè zhìliáo)
🇸🇮 radioterapija
🇮🇸 geislameðferð
🇰🇿 сәулелік терапия
🇬🇪 რადიოთერაპია
🇦🇿 radioterapiya
🇲🇽 radioterapia
Etymology
The term 'radiotherapy' originated from the words 'radiation' and 'therapy', reflecting the use of high-energy radiation in the medical treatment of cancer. The concept of using radiation to treat cancer dates back to the early 20th century, with significant advancements and refinements in the technique over the years. Today, radiotherapy plays a crucial role in the management of various types of cancer, offering patients a non-invasive treatment option with the potential to target cancer cells while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.