US Medical Term · procedures
Chemotherapy
Quimioterapia
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Chemotherapy |
| Spanish (Español) | Quimioterapia |
| Chinese (中文) | 化學治療 |
| Korean (한국어) | 화학요법 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Hóa trị liệu |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Kemoterapya |
| Portuguese (Português) | Quimioterapia |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | เคมีบำบัด |
| Japanese (日本語) | 化学療法 |
What it means
Chemotherapy uses powerful drugs to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells throughout the body. It may be given by IV infusion, injection, or oral pill. Sessions often take place in a clinic or infusion center and may last from thirty minutes to several hours. Treatment courses typically span weeks or months, with rest periods in between. Common side effects include nausea, fatigue, hair loss, and increased risk of infection. The goal is to shrink tumors, prevent cancer spread, or eliminate cancer cells that remain after surgery.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
My oncologist prescribed chemotherapy and I need to verify my coverage.
Mi oncólogo me recetó quimioterapia y necesito verificar mi cobertura.
Will my insurance cover all chemotherapy infusion sessions?
¿Mi seguro cubrirá todas las sesiones de infusión de quimioterapia?
I received chemotherapy at an outpatient infusion center last month.
Recibí quimioterapia en un centro de infusión ambulatorio el mes pasado.
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026