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- Early breast cancerBreast cancer that has not spread outside the breast or lymph nodes under the arm.
- Early cancerMeans a cancer that has been diagnosed at an early stage. In other words it is a small tumour that has not spread and has the potential to be cured.
- Early cervical cancerMeans cancer that has not spread outside the area of the neck of the womb.
- Early detectionIn medicine means finding a disease as early as possible, perhaps before there are any symptoms.
- Early menopause (premature menopause)Change of life which happens before it naturally should. This can be due to some cancer treatments - for example, radiotherapy to the ovaries, or some types of chemotherapy treatment.
- ECG (electrocardiogram, heart monitor)A medical test that checks the health of the heart by taking an electrical recording of the heart beat. Small pads are stuck to the chest. Wires are attached to the pads. These are connected to a machine. Doctors can examine the trace of the heart beat to see if the heart is working normally.
- EchocardiogramA test of the strength of your heart using sound. It is painless and only takes about half an hour.
- ElectiveThis term means planned. For example, elective surgery is surgery that is not an emergency but has been planned. Can also be used to refer to other types of treatment.
- ElectrocauteryUsing a needle heated by an electric current to stop bleeding or destroy an area of body tissue.
- Eligibility (entry criteria)List of conditions that must be fulfilled in order to get into a clinical trial. For example, having a particular type of cancer.
- EmbolisationCutting off the blood supply to a cancer by blocking the blood vessels. This reduces the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the cancer and can shrink it.
- EmbryonalMeans 'of the embryo'. Embryonal cancers develop from cells left over from when the person was an embryo. Everyone has these cells, but sometimes they can become cancerous.
- EmphysemaA lung disease causing chronic breathlessness and episodes of bronchitis.
- Endobronchial therapyTreatment given from inside the bronchi (main airways of the lung), for example, radiotherapy. A bronchoscopy is done and a radioactive source put down the bronchoscope. This can give a dose of radiation directly to a tumour inside the bronchus.
- Endobronchial ultrasoundA test that uses an endoscope and an ultrasound scanner to examine the airways and the area of the body around the airways. A doctor or specialist nurse passes a flexible, fibreoptic tube, with an ultrasound probe attached, into your mouth and down into the airways.
- Endocervical canalArea just above the cervix. Leads into the body of the womb.
- EndocrineGlandular tissues that secrete (make and release) hormones directly into the blood stream. For example, the endocrine gland cells in the pancreas secrete insulin into the blood.
- Endometrial cancerThis refers to several types of malignancy which arise from the endometrium, or lining of the uterus.
- EndometriosisA medical condition where womb lining tissue is found outside the lining of the womb, most often on the ovaries and the outer layer of the womb. Causes severe back and pelvic pain. Can be a cause of a raised CA125 level.
- EndometriumThe lining of the womb.
- EndorphinA painkilling substance (similar to opioids) made by the body in response to pain.
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangio pancreatography (ERCP)A diagnostic test to look at the gall bladder and pancreas. A tube (endoscope) is passed through the mouth and down to the duodenum. The doctor can look through the tube to see if there are abnormalities in these areas.
- Endoscopic ultrasoundA test that uses an endoscope and an ultrasound scanner to examine the digestive system, breathing system or urogenital system. A doctor or specialist nurse passes a flexible, fibreoptic tube, with an ultrasound probe attached, into the part of the body that they need to examine. This may also(...)
- EndoscopyAn examination of the inside of the digestive system. Usually used to look at the oesophagus, stomach, duodenum and gall bladder. See Digestive system.
- EnemaPutting liquid into the rectum (back passage) to clear it out.
- Enlarged glands (enlarged lymph nodes, swollen lymph nodes)Lymph glands which are bigger than they should be. This can happen for a number of reasons, only one of which is that they contain cancer cells.
- Enterochromaffin cellsThese cells are in the lining of the gut. They make and store the hormone serotonin.
- EnucleationMeans surgery to remove the eyeball. This is done when there is a cancer growing inside the eye. It is very rare.
- Enzyme (enzymes)Enzymes are proteins that control chemical reactions in the body. For example, the digestive enzymes help food to be broken down so it can be absorbed.
- EpendymomaA type of brain tumour. Rare type of glioma. Affects the ependymal cells of the brain and can occur anywhere in the brain or spinal cord. Most often found in the main part of the brain (cerebrum).
- EpidermisThe outermost layer of the skin. It is made up of 5 layers. The deepest of these contains the cells that divide to form all the cells and layers above it.
- EpiduralGiven into the spinal fluid. An epidural anaesthetic is an anaesthetic given into the spinal fluid. Some cancer drugs are given this way.
- EpirubicinA chemotherapy drug used to treat breast, oesophagus, lung, ovary and stomach cancers. It is also used to treat lymphoma and soft tissue sarcomas.
- Epithelial tissueThe skin tissue that covers the outside and inside of the body. It covers all the body organs and lines all the tubes and cavities of the body. Cancers of epithelial tissue are called carcinomas.
- Epoetin (Eprex)Stimulates the production of red blood cells. It is used for the treatment of anaemia.
- Erlotinib (Tarceva)Erlotinib inhibits the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase preventing the proliferation of tumour cells. It is used in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.
- Erythropoietin (EPO)A growth factor that encourages the bone marrow to make more red blood cells. It is made by the kidneys but can now be made in the laboratory in large amounts. Some people may have EPO injections if they get anaemic during chemotherapy and feel very tired and breathless.
- EthicsThe process of determining that a proposed clinical trial conforms to a wide range of moral, scientific and ethical standards, to ensure that participants in the trial are not abused, mistreated or unfairly taken advantage of. Before a clinical trial can go ahead, it must be given approval via(...)
- Ethics CommitteeEthics Committees review research proposals involving human participants to ensure that they are ethically acceptable and in accordance with relevant standards and guidelines. The National Health and Medical Research Council Act 1992 specifies that NHMRC will issue advice and guidelines on(...)
- Etoposide (Vepesid)A chemotherapy drug used in the treatment of lung and stomach cancers. Also used in the treatment of germ cell cancers, lymphomas, acute leukaemia and neuroblastoma.
- Ewing's sarcomaA type of primary bone cancer. It is most often diagnosed in teenagers or young adults.
- Excision biopsyAn operation to remove a lump so that it can be looked at under the microscope.
- Exemestane (Aromasin)Decreases the synthesis of oestrogen by inhibiting the aromatase enzyme. It is used in the treatment of breast cancer.
- Existing treatmentAccepted treatment that is being used at the moment. This may be what a new treatment is compared to in a trial.
- Exit siteWhen radiotherapy is given, the radiation passes through the body. The place where it comes out is called the exit site. The skin here can become sensitive during the treatment period.
- Exocrine (exocrine glands)Glands that secrete (make and release) enzymes through a duct (tube). For example, the exocrine gland cells in the pancreas secrete pancreatic digestive enzymes through the pancreatic duct into the duodenum.
- Experimental groupIn research, a group of patients who are having the treatment being tested in a trial.
- Extended cholecystectomyAn operation to remove the gall bladder, about 2.5 cm of liver tissue near the gallbladder and all the lymph nodes near and around the gall bladder. It may also be called open cholecystectomy.
- Extensive diseaseTerm used by doctors to mean cancer that is widespread within the body or within a particular organ of the body. For example, with small cell lung cancer of the lung, extensive disease is lung cancer that has spread to the chest or to other parts of the body.
- External radiotherapyTreatment with high energy waves which are aimed at a cancer (or the area where a cancer was) from outside the body.