chemo
UK: ˈkiːməʊ | US: ˈkiːmoʊ
n. Short for "chemotherapy," a treatment using chemical agents to combat diseases, especially cancer.
The word "chemo" is a clipped form of "chemotherapy," which itself derives from the combination of "chemical" (from Greek khēmeia, originally referring to alchemy) and "therapy" (from Greek therapeia, meaning "healing" or "treatment"). The term emerged in the early 20th century as medical science developed chemical treatments for diseases. Over time, "chemo" became a colloquial shorthand in medical and everyday contexts, retaining its core association with chemical-based disease treatment.
She started chemo last week to treat her lymphoma.
The side effects of chemo can be challenging for patients.
His doctor recommended a combination of surgery and chemo.
Advances in chemo have improved survival rates for many cancers.
After finishing chemo, she entered remission.