Glossary Terms

Egg freezing

The process by which women can have eggs surgically removed and frozen for future use.

End of life

A period of time during which a person’s condition is getting much worse and when death is expected.

End of life care

Helps people who are at the end of life to live as well as possible until they die. It allows the needs of the patient and the family to be identified and met throughout the last part of life and into bereavement. This includes physical care and the relief of pain and other symptoms. It also includes psychological, social, spiritual and practical support.

Endometrial

To do with the lining of the womb.

Endometrial

To do with the lining of the womb.

Endometrium

Lining of the uterus or womb.

Endometrium

Lining of the uterus or womb.

Endoscopy

The endoscope contains a camera and light, enabling the clinician to visualise the area in question. It is usually used to investigate the: Oesophagus. Stomach. Large Bowel. Small Bowel. The endoscopy is usually carried out at outpatients. Most patients have a choice between having the test while they are awake or after having a medicine to make them drowsy . The endoscope tube is passed down the throat or through the rectum to the area being investigated. If there are any abnormalities, the doctor will take pieces of tissue from the abnormal looking area to send to the laboratory for closer inspection under a microscope. These tissue samples are called biopsies.

Enzyme

A protein molecule that causes chemical reactions of other substances, without itself being destroyed or altered on completion of the reactions

Exon

Coding sequence in a gene.

External beam radiotherapy

Radiation that has been produced by a machine called a linear accelerator is applied to the area that needs to be treated.