CHEMOPREVENTION Meaning and
Definition
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Chemoprevention refers to the use of chemical substances or drugs to prevent, inhibit, or delay the development of cancer. It involves the administration of specific agents intended to interfere with the process of carcinogenesis, which is the initiation, progression, and transformation of normal cells into cancerous cells.
The primary goal of chemoprevention is to reduce the incidence or mortality rates associated with cancer. It encompasses the use of various compounds, including naturally occurring substances, synthetic drugs, and dietary supplements, which exhibit cancer-preventive properties. Chemopreventive agents function by targeting specific molecular pathways or risk factors involved in carcinogenesis, such as DNA damage, inflammation, oxidative stress, and abnormal cell growth.
The role of chemoprevention is especially significant for individuals at high risk of developing certain types of cancer, including those with genetic predispositions, a family history of cancer, or exposure to environmental carcinogens. Through the use of chemopreventive agents, these individuals can potentially lower their risk of cancer occurrence or progression.
Chemoprevention strategies can be categorized into primary, secondary, or tertiary prevention. Primary chemoprevention aims to reduce the initial development of cancer in healthy individuals, while secondary chemoprevention focuses on preventing the progression of pre-cancerous conditions to invasive cancer. Tertiary chemoprevention refers to interventions targeted at reducing the recurrence or incidence of a second primary cancer in individuals with a prior history of cancer.
Overall, chemoprevention plays a vital role in cancer control by utilizing pharmaceutical substances to impede the development and progression of cancer, thus potentially reducing the burden and impact of the disease on individuals and society.
Common Misspellings for CHEMOPREVENTION
- xhemoprevention
- vhemoprevention
- fhemoprevention
- dhemoprevention
- cgemoprevention
- cbemoprevention
- cnemoprevention
- cjemoprevention
- cuemoprevention
- cyemoprevention
- chwmoprevention
- chsmoprevention
- chdmoprevention
- chrmoprevention
- ch4moprevention
- ch3moprevention
- chenoprevention
- chekoprevention
- chejoprevention
- chemiprevention
Etymology of CHEMOPREVENTION
The word "chemoprevention" is derived from two main components: "chemo" and "prevention".
1. "Chemo" is an abbreviation of "chemotherapy", which refers to the treatment of disease using chemical substances, specifically drugs. The term "chemotherapy" was coined in the early 20th century, derived from the words "chemo" (chemical) and "therapy" (treatment). It was initially used in the context of using chemicals to treat diseases like cancer.
2. "Prevention" comes from the Latin word "praeventio", which means "to go before" or "to hinder". It refers to actions taken to avoid or reduce the likelihood of something undesirable occurring.
When combined, "chemoprevention" implies the use of chemical substances (chemo-) to prevent (-prevention) the development or progression of a disease, specifically cancer.
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