actinotherapy

9.9

To treat disease by exposing the body to radiation, often for cancer

noun
/ˌæktɪnoʊˈθɛrəpi/

Archaic

: actinoterapia

The patient underwent actinotherapy as a part of their cancer treatment plan.

Examples

The doctor recommended actinotherapy for her cancer treatment.
Advances in actinotherapy have improved survival rates for certain types of tumors.
Researchers are developing new forms of actinotherapy to minimize side effects.
Many patients are opting for actinotherapy as a viable option.
The patient underwent actinotherapy as a part of their cancer treatment plan.
Advances in actinotherapy have improved survival rates for certain types of tumors.
Researchers are developing new forms of actinotherapy to minimize side effects.

Synonyms

radiation

vsactinotherapy

Specialized

87 3.7

Treatment that uses strong rays to kill cancer cells

is the same idea but used more widely beyond medicine

radiation therapy

vsactinotherapy

Specialized

7 3.9

A treatment that uses strong beams of energy to kill cancer cells

is similar but without naming the energy level used

irradiation

vsactinotherapy

Specialized

6 7.7

To expose something to radiation for medical treatment or testing

refers to active treatment rather than any general exposure

radiotherapy

vsactinotherapy

Specialized

2 4.4

Treatment that uses strong rays to destroy cancer cells

is a synonymous technical form commonly used in medicine

Surface Forms

actinotherapy singular

actinotherapies plural

Morphology

actinotherapy = therapy (opaque) = actino + therapy

The combining form 'actino-' meaning radiation is technical and unfamiliar to average learners, so the meaning is not easily derived from 'therapy' alone.

Etymology

Actinotherapy comes from the old Greek root actino- meaning 'ray' and the familiar -therapy meaning 'healing'. So, actinotherapy is 'healing by rays', which is why it means treating disease with radiation.