Oncology Test Bank Ch. 15, 23, 34, 46,47,49
Questions And Answers
The public health nurse is presenting a health-promotion class to a group at a local
... [Show More] community center.
Which intervention most directly addresses the leading cause of cancer deaths in North America?
A)Monthly self-breast exams
B)Smoking cessation
C)Annual colonoscopies
D)Monthly testicular exams - Correct Ans-B - Cancer is second only to cardiovascular disease as a leading
cause of death in the United States. Although the numbers of cancer deaths have decreased slightly,
more than 570,000 Americans were expected to die from a malignant process in 2011. The leading
causes of cancer death in the United States, in order of frequency, are lung, prostate, and colorectal
cancer in men and lung, breast, and colorectal cancer in women, so smoking cessation is the health
promotion initiative directly related to lung cancer.
A nurse who works in an oncology clinic is assessing a patient who has arrived for a 2-month follow-up
appointment following chemotherapy. The nurse notes that the patients skin appears yellow. Which
blood tests should be done to further explore this clinical sign?
A)Liver function tests (LFTs)
B)Complete blood count (CBC)
C)Platelet count
D)Blood urea nitrogen and creatinine - Correct Ans-A - Yellow skin is a sign of jaundice and the liver is a
common organ affected by metastatic disease. An LFT should be done to determine if the liver is
functioning. A CBC, platelet count and tests of renal function would not directly assess for liver disease.
The school nurse is teaching a nutrition class in the local high school. One student states that he has
heard that certain foods can increase the incidence of cancer. The nurse responds, Research has shown
that certain foods indeed appear to increase the risk of cancer. Which of the following menu selections
would be the best choice for potentially reducing the risks of cancer?
A)Smoked salmon and green beans
B)Pork chops and fried green tomatoes
C)Baked apricot chicken and steamed broccoli
D)Liver, onions, and steamed peas - Correct Ans-C - Fruits and vegetables appear to reduce cancer risk.
Salt-cured foods, such as ham and processed meats, as well as red meats, should be limited.
Traditionally, nurses have been involved with tertiary cancer prevention. However, an increasing
emphasis is being placed on both primary and secondary prevention. What would be an example of
primary prevention?
A)Yearly Pap tests
B)Testicular self-examination
C)Teaching patients to wear sunscreen
D)Screening mammograms - Correct Ans-C - Primary prevention is concerned with reducing the risks of
cancer in healthy people through practices such as use of sunscreen. Secondary prevention involves
detection and screening to achieve early diagnosis, as demonstrated by Pap tests, mammograms, and
testicular exams.
The nurse is caring for a 39-year-old woman with a family history of breast cancer. She requested a
breast tumor marking test and the results have come back positive. As a result, the patient is requesting
a bilateral mastectomy. This surgery is an example of what type of oncologic surgery?
A)Salvage surgery
B)Palliative surgery
C)Prophylactic surgery
D)Reconstructive surgery - Correct Ans-C - Prophylactic surgery is used when there is an extensive family
history and nonvital tissues are removed. Salvage surgery is an additional treatment option that uses an
extensive surgical approach to treat the local recurrence of a cancer after the use of a less extensive
primary approach. Palliative surgery is performed in an attempt to relieve complications of cancer, such
as ulceration, obstruction, hemorrhage, pain, and malignant effusion. Reconstructive surgery may follow
curative or radical surgery in an attempt to improve function or obtain a more desirable cosmetic effect.
The nurse is caring for a patient who is to begin receiving external radiation for a malignant tumor of the
neck. While providing patient education, what potential adverse effects should the nurse discuss with
the patient?
A)Impaired nutritional status
B)Cognitive changes
C)Diarrhea
D)Alopecia - Correct Ans-A - Alterations in oral mucosa, change and loss of taste, pain, and dysphasia
often occur as a result of radiotherapy to the head and neck. The patient is at an increased risk of
impaired nutritional status. Radiotherapy does not cause cognitive changes. Diarrhea is not a likely
concern for this patient. Radiation only results in alopecia when targeted at the whole brain; radiation of
other parts of the body does not lead to hair loss.
While a patient is receiving IV doxorubicin hydrochloride for the treatment of cancer, the nurse observes
swelling and pain at the IV site. The nurse should prioritize what action?
A)Stopping the administration of the drug immediately
B)Notifying the patients physician
C)Continuing the infusion but decreasing the rate
D)Applying a warm compress to the infusion site - Correct Ans-A - Doxorubicin hydrochloride is a
chemotherapeutic vesicant that can cause severe tissue damage. The nurse should stop the
administration of the drug immediately and then notify the patients physician. Ice can be applied to the
site once the drug therapy has stopped.
A patient newly diagnosed with cancer is scheduled to begin chemotherapy treatment and the nurse is
providing anticipatory guidance about potential adverse effects. When addressing the most common
adverse effect, what should the nurse describe? [Show Less]