essential thrombocytosis(eh-SEN-shul THROM-boh-sy-TOH-sis) An increased number of thrombocytes (platelets) in the blood, without a known cause.
EssiacAn herbal tea mixture that contains burdock root, Indian rhubarb root, sheep sorrel, and slippery elm bark.
ester(ES-ter) A type of chemical substance that is a combination of acid and alcohol. Esters are found in essential oils (scented liquid taken from plants).
esterified estrogen(eh-STAYR-uh-fide ES-truh-jin) A form of estrogen that may have fewer side effects than other forms.
estradiol(es-truh-DY-ol) A form of the hormone estrogen.
estramustineA combination of the hormone estradiol (an estrogen) and nitrogen mustard (an anticancer drug). Used in the palliative therapy of prostate cancer.
EstrogenA type of hormone made by the body that helps develop and maintain female sex characteristics and the growth of long bones.
estrogen receptor(ES-truh-jin reh-SEP-ter) A protein found inside the cells of the female reproductive tissue, some other types of tissue, and some cancer cells.
estrogen receptor negative(ES-truh-jin reh-SEP-ter NEH-guh-tiv) Describes cells that do not have a protein to which the hormone estrogen will bind.
estrogen receptor positive(ES-truh-jin reh-SEP-ter PAH-zuh-tiv) Describes cells that have a protein to which the hormone estrogen will bind.
estrogen receptor test(ES-truh-jin reh-SEP-ter test) A lab test to find out if cancer cells have estrogen receptors (proteins to which estrogen will bind).
estrogen replacement therapy(ES-truh-jin rih-PLAYSS-munt THAYR-uh-pee) Hormones (estrogen, progesterone, or both) given to postmenopausal women or to women who have had their ovaries…
ET-743A substance being studied in the treatment of some types of cancer. It may damage the DNA in cancer cells. ET-743 is a type of topoisomerase-I inhibitor.
etanerceptA drug that is commonly used to treat arthritis. It is also being studied in the treatment of cancer, and as a treatment for loss of appetite and weight…
etanidazoleA drug that increases the effectiveness of radiation therapy.
ethical will(EH-thih-kul â¦) A final personal message or document in which a person shares his or her thoughts, values, memories, life lessons, advice, and…
ethmoid sinus(ETH-moyd SY-nus) A type of paranasal sinus (a hollow space in the bones around the nose).
ethynyluracilAn anticancer drug that increases the effectiveness of fluorouracil. Also called eniluracil.
etidronateA drug that belongs to the family of drugs called bisphosphonates. Bisphosphonates are used as treatment for hypercalcemia (abnormally high levels of…
Etiology(EE-tee-AH-loh-jee) The cause or origin of disease.
Etopophos(ee-toh-POH-fos) A drug used to treat testicular and small cell lung cancers. It is also being studied in the treatment of several other types of cancer.
etoposide(ee-toh-POH-side) A drug used to treat testicular and small cell lung cancers. It is also being studied in the treatment of several other types of cancer.
etoposide phosphate(ee-TOH-poh-side FOS-fate) A drug used to treat testicular and small cell lung cancers.
ETSSmoke that comes from the burning of a tobacco product and smoke that is exhaled by smokers. Inhaling ETS is called involuntary or passive smoking.
eucalyptus(YOO-kuh-LIP-tus) A type of evergreen tree that is a member of the myrtle family.
euphoria(yoo-FOR-ee-uh) A feeling of great happiness or well-being. Euphoria may be a side effect of certain drugs.
EUSA procedure in which an endoscope is inserted into the body. An endoscope is a thin, tube-like instrument that has a light and a lens for viewing.
EUS-FNAA procedure to take a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope. An endoscope with an ultrasound probe and a biopsy needle at the end is…
euthanasia(YOO-thuh-NAY-zhuh) An easy or painless death, or the intentional ending of the life of a person suffering from an incurable or painful disease at his or…
Evacet(EH-vuh-set) A form of the anticancer drug doxorubicin that is contained in very tiny, fat-like particles.
evaluable diseaseDisease that cannot be measured directly by the size of the tumor but can be evaluated by other methods specific to a particular clinical trial.
evaluable patientsPatients whose response to a treatment can be measured because enough information has been collected.
everolimusA substance that is being studied in the treatment of cancer. It belongs to the families of drugs called immunosuppressive agents and antiangiogenesis…
Evidence(EV-uh-dins): Information that is collected in an orderly way about a disease or its treatment. This information often comes from research.
Evista(ee-VIS-tuh) A drug used to reduce the risk of invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women who are at a high risk of developing the disease or who have…
Ewing family of tumors(YOO-ing ...) A group of cancers that includes Ewing tumor of bone (ETB or Ewing sarcoma of bone), extraosseous Ewing (EOE) tumors, primitive…
Ewing sarcoma(YOO-ing sar-KOH-muh) A type of cancer that forms in bone or soft tissue. Also called peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor and pPNET.
Ex vivo(ex VEE-voh) Outside of the living body. Refers to a medical procedure in which an organ, cells, or tissue are taken from a living body for a treatment or…
exatecan mesylateAn anticancer drug that is a type of topoisomerase inhibitor. Also called DX-8951f.
excisional biopsy(ek-SIH-zhun-al BY-op-see) A surgical procedure in which an entire lump or suspicious area is removed for diagnosis.
excisional skin surgery(ek-SIH-zhun-al ⦠SER-juh-ree) A surgical procedure used to remove moles, cysts, skin cancer, and other skin growths using local anesthesia.
excrete(ek-SKREET) To get rid of waste material from the blood, tissues, or organs by a normal discharge (such as sweat, urine, or stool).
exemestane(EK-seh-MEH-stayn) A drug used to treat advanced breast cancer and to prevent recurrent breast cancer in postmenopausal women who have already been…
exenteration(ek-ZEN-ter-AY-shun) Surgery to remove organs within a body cavity.
exisulindA drug that is being studied in the treatment and prevention of cancer. It has been shown to cause apoptosis (cell death) in cancerous and precancerous…
Exjade(EX-jayd) A drug used to treat too much iron in the blood caused by blood transfusions.
exocrine cancer(EK-soh-krin KAN-ser) A disease in which malignant (cancer) cells are found in the tissues of the pancreas. Also called pancreatic cancer.
exocrine pancreas cellA pancreatic cell that produces enzymes that are secreted into the small intestine.
expanded access trialA way to provide an investigational therapy to a patient who is not eligible to receive that therapy in a clinical trial, but who has a serious or…
expectant management(ek-SPEK-tunt MA-nij-ment) Closely monitoring a patient's condition but withholding treatment until symptoms appear or change.
experimental(ek-SPER-ih-men-tul) In clinical trials, refers to a drug (including a new drug, dose, combination, or route of administration) or procedure that has…
experimental drug(ek-SPER-ih-men-tul ...) A substance that has been tested in a laboratory and has gotten approval from the U.S.
exploratory surgery(ek-SPLOR-uh-TOR-ee SER-juh-ree) Surgery to look inside the body to help make a diagnosis.
extensive stage SCLCStands for small cell lung cancer. SCLC is usually staged as either "limited" or "extensive.
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.
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.
extracorporeal photopheresis(EK-struh-kore-PORE-ee-ul FOH-toh-fuh-REE-siss) A procedure in which blood is removed from the body and treated with ultraviolet light and drugs that…
extracranial(EK-struh-KRAY-nee-ul) Outside of the cranium (bones that surround the brain).
extracranial germ cell tumor(EK-struh-KRAY-nee-ul jurm sel TOO-mer) A rare cancer that forms in germ cells in the testicle or ovary, or in germ cells that have traveled to areas of…
extract(EK-strakt) In medicine, a preparation of a substance obtained from plants, animals, or bacteria and used as a drug or in drugs.
extragonadal germ cell tumor(EK-struh-go-NA-dul jurm sel TOO-mer) A rare cancer that develops in germ cells that are found in areas of the body other than the ovary or testicle (such…
extrahepatic(EK-struh-heh-PA-tik) Located or occurring outside the liver.
extrahepatic bile duct(EK-struh-heh-PA-tik BILE dukt) The part of the common hepatic bile duct (tube that collects bile from the liver) that is outside the liver.
extrahepatic bile duct cancer(EK-struh-heh-PA-tik BILE dukt KAN-ser) A rare cancer that forms in the part of the bile duct that is outside the liver.
extranodal(EK-stuh-NOH-dul) Refers to an area or organ outside of the lymph nodes.
extraocular(EK-struh-AH-kyoo-ler) Located outside the eye.
extraosseous(EK-struh-AH-see-us) Located outside of the bone.
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…
extravasation(ek-STRA-vuh-SAY-shun) The leakage of blood, lymph, or other fluid, such as an anticancer drug, from a blood vessel or tube into the tissue around it.
eye cancer(I KAN-ser) Cancer that forms in tissues of and around the eye. Some of the cancers that may affect the eye include melanoma (a rare cancer that begins in…