CH 16-Cancer Care

9. A patient with uterine cancer is being treated with internal radiation therapy. What would the nurse's priority responsibility be for this patient? a. Explain to the patient that she will continue to emit radiation for approximately 1 week after the implant is removed. b. Maintain as much distance as possible from the patient while in the room. c. Alert family members that they should restrict their visiting to 5 minutes at any one time. d. Wear a lead apron when providing direct patient care.

a. Explain to the patient that she will continue to emit radiation for approximately 1 week after the implant is removed.

2. A patient, age 67 years, is admitted for diagnostic studies to rule out cancer. The patient is Caucasian, has been employed as a landscaper for 40 years, and has a 36-year history of smoking a pack of cigarettes daily. What significant risk factors does the nurse recognize this patient has? (Select all that apply.) a. Age b. Cigarette smoking c. Occupation d. Race e. Marital status

a. Age b. Cigarette smoking c. Occupation

13. What intervention should the nurse provide to reduce the incidence of renal damage when a patient is taking a chemotherapy regimen? a. Encourage fluid intake to dilute the urine. b. Take measures to acidify the urine and prevent uric acid crystallization. c. Withhold medication when the blood urea nitrogen level exceeds 20 mg/dL. d. Limit fluids to 1,000 mL daily to prevent accumulation of the drug's end products after cell lysis.

a. Encourage fluid intake to dilute the urine.

4. A patient will be having an endoscopic procedure with a diagnostic biopsy. What type of biopsy does the nurse explain will remove an entire piece of suspicious tissue? a. Excisional biopsy b. Incisional biopsy c. Needle biopsy d. Punch biopsy

a. Excisional biopsy

15. A patient is to receive Bacille Calmette- Guerin (BCG), a nonspecific biologic response modifier. Why would the patient receive this form of treatment? a. For cancer of the bladder b. For cancer of the breast c. For cancer of the lungs d. For skin cancer

a. For cancer of the bladder

1. What can the nurse do to meet the challenges in caring for a patient with cancer? a. Identify own perception of cancer and set realistic goals. b. Set the same goals for all patients with cancer. c. Tell the patient about the things the patient has done to cause cancer. d. Ensure that the patient has the financial means to afford their care.

a. Identify own perception of cancer and set realistic goals.

16. What is the best way for the nurse to assess the nutritional status of a patient with cancer? a. Weigh the patient daily. b. Monitor daily caloric intake. c. Observe for proper wound healing. d. Assess BUN and creatinine levels

a. Weigh the patient daily.

8. A patient will be receiving radiation for 6 weeks for the treatment of breast cancer and asks the nurse why it takes so long. What is the best response by the nurse? a. "It allows time for you to cope with the treatment." b. "It will allow time for the repair of healthy tissue." c. "It will decrease the incidence of leukopenia and thrombocytopenia." d. "It is not really understood why you have to go for 6 weeks of treatment."

b. "It will allow time for the repair of healthy tissue."

6. A patient is scheduled for cryosurgery for cervical cancer & tells the nurse, "I am not exactly sure what the doctor is going to do." What is the best response by the nurse? a. "The physician is going to use medication to inject the area." b. "The physician is going to use liquid nitrogen to freeze the area." c. "The physician is going to use a laser to remove the area." d. "The physician is going to use radio frequency to ablate the area."

b. "The physician is going to use liquid nitrogen to freeze the area."

12. The nurse assesses that extravasation of a chemotherapy agent has occurred. What should the initial action of the nurse be? a. Apply a warm compress to the area. b. Discontinue the infusion. c. Inject an antidote, if required. d. Place ice over the site of infiltration.

b. Discontinue the infusion.

11. A patient is taking vincristine, a plant alkaloid for the treatment of cancer. What system should the nurse be sure to assess for symptoms of toxicity? a. Gastrointestinal system b. Nervous system c. Pulmonary system d. Urinary system

b. Nervous system

3. What foods should the nurse suggest that the patient consume less of in order to reduce nitrate intake because of the possibility of carcinogenic action? a. Eggs and milk b. Fish and poultry c. Ham and bacon d. Green, leafy vegetables

c. Ham and bacon

7. The nurse at the clinic explains to the patient that the surgeon will be removing a mole on the patient's back that has the potential to develop into cancer. The nurse informs the patient that this is what type of procedure? a. Diagnostic b. Palliative c. Prophylactic d. Reconstructive

c. Prophylactic

5. A patient is admitted for an excisional biopsy of a breast lesion. What intervention should the nurse provide for the care of this patient? a. Clarify information provided by the physician. b. Provide aseptic care to the incision postoperatively. c. Provide time for the patient to discuss her concerns. d. Counsel the patient about the possibility of losing her breast.

c. Provide time for the patient to discuss her concerns.

14. What does the nurse understand is the rationale for administering allopurinol for a patient receiving chemotherapy? a. It stimulates the immune system against the tumor cells. b. It treats drug-related anemia. c. It prevents alopecia. d. It lowers serum and uric acid levels.

d. It lowers serum and uric acid levels.

10. What disadvantages of chemotherapy should the patient be informed about prior to starting the regimen? a. It attacks cancer cells during their vulnerable phase. b. It functions against disseminated disease. c. It causes a systemic reaction. d. It targets normal body cells as well as cancer cells.

d. It targets normal body cells as well as cancer cells.