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radiation therapy

radiation therapy

7 3.9
A treatment that uses strong beams of energy to kill cancer cells
  • noun
  • /ˌreɪdiˈeɪʃən ˈθɛrəpi/
  • Specialized
translation icon : radioterapia
  • About half of all cancer patients receive radiation therapy, often in combination with other treatments.
  • radiation therapy or chemotherapy
  • postoperative radiation therapy
  • adjuvant radiation therapy

So he underwent pretty toxic chemotherapy and and whole body radiation therapy to kill all of his immune cells.

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Examples

  • Our patient was treated with two forms of external beam radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Salvage therapies included chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy to the metastatic site.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Of the 30 patients, 16 had received radiation therapy to the primary site.

    Academic text (2008)
  • However, the time from the completion of radiation therapy ranged from 3 months to 5 years.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The other patient did undergo postoperative radiation therapy and was alive without disease at five years.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Twelve of the 26 patients (46%) had received radiation therapy to the primary site.

    Academic text (2008)
  • When the disease is confined, a local treatment such as surgical excision or radiation therapy is indicated.

    Academic text (2002)
  • The patient underwent postoperative radiation therapy, which was directed at the surgical area.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Treatments included surgical resection alone, radiation therapy alone, and surgical resection plus postoperative radiation.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Around 50% of patients with cancer receive radiation therapy as part of their treatment plan.

Synonyms

radiation
vsradiation therapy
  • Specialized
87 3.7

Treatment that uses strong rays to kill cancer cells

focuses on high-energy rays specifically to destroy or damage cells
irradiation
vsradiation therapy
  • Specialized
6 7.7

To expose something to radiation for medical treatment or testing

refers to the therapeutic act using high-energy rays to damage cells
radiotherapy
vsradiation therapy
  • Specialized
2 4.4

Treatment that uses strong rays to destroy cancer cells

is the same treatment but uses a different term
brachytherapy
vsradiation therapy
  • Specialized
1 8.1

A cancer treatment that puts radioactive material inside or next to a tumor

uses external high-energy beams rather than internal sources
radiosurgery
vsradiation therapy
  • Specialized
1 6.0

A treatment that uses focused beams of radiation to destroy tumors without cutting the body

is a therapeutic beam method rather than physical cutting
actinotherapy
vsradiation therapy
  • Archaic
9.9

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

is broader, stressing high-energy rays rather than exposure to substances
X-ray therapy
vsradiation therapy
  • Specialized
3.6

A medical treatment that uses X-rays to kill cancer cells

is a broader high-energy ray treatment not limited to that type
teletherapy
vsradiation therapy
  • Specialized
5.7

A medical treatment using radiation from outside the body to treat cancer

can be given by other methods not only from a distance
curietherapy
vsradiation therapy
  • Archaic
9.9

A cancer treatment that uses radiation from radium to treat tumours

is general high-energy beam treatment not tied to one metal source
radium therapy
vsradiation therapy
  • Archaic
6.5

A medical treatment using radium to treat cancer that was used in the past

is modern practice using various high-energy sources rather than that metal

How Local

brachytherapy
  • Specialized
1 8.1
radiation therapy
  • Specialized
7 3.9

Surface Forms

Morphology

radiation + therapy

The compound is fully compositional: 'radiation' (energy in the form of rays) combined with 'therapy' (treatment) yields 'treatment using radiation.' There is no idiomatic shift or metaphorical meaning, and many languages use the same transparent construction (e.g., radioterapia, radiothérapie, 放射線治療), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Radiation therapy comes from the idea of using powerful rays to treat disease: radiation means high-energy rays like X-rays and therapy means 'treatment'. Doctors aim those rays to destroy or damage cancer cells, so the phrase means a medical 'treatment' that uses energy rays to kill or weaken them.