CANCER LEGAL GLOSSARY

Edema: The accumulation of fluid in part of the body.

Effusion: A collection of fluid in a body cavity, usually between two adjoining tissues. For example, a pleural effusion is the collection of fluid between two layers of the pleura (the lung's covering).

Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG): A test that takes recordings of the electrical activity of the heart. 

Electrofulgeration: Destroys a cancer by burning it with electrical current. 

Electrolarynx: A battery-powered instrument that makes a humming sound. An electrolarynx is used to help someone whose voice box (larynx) has been removed. 

Endocervical Curettage: The scraping of the mucous membrane of the cervical canal using a spoon-shaped instrument called a curette. 

Endometrial Carcinoma: A cancer of the lining of the uterus. 

Endoscopic Ultrasound: A test that uses an endoscope (a flexible tube inserted into the body) to bounce high-energy sound waves off internal tissues and organs and change the echoes into pictures (sonograms). 

Endoscopy: The use of a thin, lighted tube (called an endoscope) to examine the inside of the body. 

Epithelial Cells: Cells that line the internal and external surfaces of the body. 

Epithelium: A thin layer of tissue that covers organs, glands, and other structures within the body. 

ER-: Estrogen receptor negative. Breast cancer cells that do not have a protein (receptor molecule) to which estrogen will attach. Breast cancer cells that are ER- do not need the hormone estrogen to grow and usually do not respond to hormone (antiestrogen) therapy that blocks these receptor sites. 

ER: Estrogen receptor. Protein found on some cancer cells to which estrogen will attach. 

ER+: Estrogen receptor positive. Breast cancer cells that have a protein (receptor molecule) to which estrogen will attach. Breast cancer cells that are ER+ need the hormone estrogen to grow and will usually respond to hormone (antiestrogen) therapy that blocks these receptor sites. 

Erythema: Redness of the skin.

Erythrocyte: The red blood cell that carries oxygen to body cells and carbon dioxide away from body cells. 

Esophageal Speech: Speech produced by trapping air in the esophagus and forcing it out again. It is used by someone whose voice box (larynx) has been removed. 

Esophagitis: Inflammation of the esophagus (food pipe). 

Esophagus: The muscular tube through which food passes from the throat to the stomach. 

Estrogen Receptor Assay: A test that determines if breast cancer is stimulated by the hormone estrogen. 

Estrogen: Female sex hormones produced by the ovaries, adrenal glands, placenta, and fat. 

Excision: Surgical removal. 

Expectant Therapy: “Watch and wait.” Involves no immediate treatment if the cancer is not causing any symptoms, is expected to grow very slowly, and is small and contained within one area. 

External Beam Radiation: Radiation therapy that uses a machine such as a linear accelerator or a Cobalt apparatus to aim high-energy rays at the cancer. Also called external radiation. 

Extravasation: The leaking of intravenous fluids or medications into tissue surrounding the infusion site. Extravasation may cause tissue damage. 

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