Cancer Dictionary – E
edema (eh-DEE-ma) Swelling caused by excess fluid in body tissues.
efficacy Effectiveness. In medicine, the ability of an intervention (for example, a drug or surgery) to produce the desired beneficial effect.
effusion (eh-FYOO-zhun) An abnormal collection of fluid in hollow spaces or between tissues of the body. For example, a pleural effusion is a collection of fluid between the two layers of membrane covering the lungs.
emesis (EH-meh-sis) Vomiting.
emetic (eh-MEH-tik) Describes a substance that causes vomiting. Also called emetogenic.
emetogenic (eh-MEH-toh-JEN-ik) Describes a substance that causes vomiting. Also called emetic.
epidemiologist (EH-pih-DEE-mee-AH-loh-jist) A scientist who studies the patterns, causes, and control of disease in groups of people.
epidemiology (EH-pih-dee-mee-AH-loh-jee) The study of the patterns, causes, and control of disease in groups of people.
epidermal growth factor receptor (eh-pih-DER-mul grohth FAK-ter reh-SEP-ter ) The protein found on the surface of some cells and to which epidermal growth factor binds, causing the cells to divide. It is found at abnormally high levels on the surface of many types of cancer cells, so these cells may divide excessively in the presence of epidermal growth factor. Also called EGFR, ErbB1, and HER1.
epidermis (ep-i-DER-mis) The upper or outer layer of the two main layers of tissue that make up the skin.
epidermoid carcinoma (EH-pih-DUR-moyd KAR-sih-NOH-muh) Cancer that begins in squamous cells (thin, flat cells that look like fish scales). Squamous cells are found in the tissue that forms the surface of the skin, the lining of the hollow organs of the body, and the lining of the respiratory and digestive tracts. Also called squamous cell carcinoma.
epithelial (ep-ih-THEE-lee-ul) Refers to the cells that line the internal and external surfaces of the body.
epithelial carcinoma (ep-ih-THEE-lee-ul KAR-sih-NOH-muh) Cancer that begins in the cells that line an organ.
epithelium (EP-ih-THEE-lee-um) A thin layer of tissue that covers organs, glands, and other structures within the body.
excisional biopsy (ek-SIH-zhun-al BY-op-see) A surgical procedure in which an entire lump or suspicious area is removed for diagnosis. The tissue is then examined under a microscope.
experimental drug (ek-SPER-ih-men-tul …) A substance that has been tested in a laboratory and has gotten approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be tested in people. A drug may be approved by the FDA for use in one disease or condition but be considered experimental or investigational in other diseases or conditions. Also called investigational drug.
exploratory surgery (ek-SPLOR-uh-TOR-ee SER-juh-ree) Surgery to look inside the body to help make a diagnosis.
extensive-stage small cell lung cancer Cancer has spread outside of the lung in which it began or to other parts of the body.
external radiation therapy (…RAY-dee-AY-shun THAYR-uh-pee) A type of radiation therapy that uses a machine to aim high-energy rays at the cancer from outside of the body. Also called external-beam radiation therapy.
external-beam radiation therapy (…RAY-dee-AY-shun THAYR-uh-pee) A type of radiation therapy that uses a machine to aim high-energy rays at the cancer from outside of the body. Also called external radiation therapy.
extrapleural pneumonectomy (EK-struh-PLOOR-ul NOO-moh-NEK-toh-mee) Surgery to remove a diseased lung, part of the pericardium (membrane covering the heart), part of the diaphragm (muscle between the lungs and the abdomen), and part of the parietal pleura (membrane lining the chest). This type of surgery is used most often to treat malignant mesothelioma.