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A patient is to receive flurouracil (5-FU; Adrucil) as part of a treatment protocol for colon cancer. When teaching the patient about this drug, what should the nurse say concerning when the nadir usually occurs in the blood count?

10-14 days after administration

The patient has a low platelet count secondary to chemotherapy. Which nursing actions would be the most appropriate.

Apply pressure to injection site and assess for occult bleeding

A patient with breast cancer is scheduled to receive anastozole (Arimidex), an aromatase inhibitor. Which information should be included in the patient teaching?

Aromatase inhibitors block the peripheral conversion of androgens to estrogens

The nurse is administering IV fluorouracil (5-FU;Adrucil) to a patient in the outpatient oncology clinic. Which nursing intervention would be most appropriate?

Assess for hyperpigmentation along the vein in which the drug is given

The patient is to receive cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) as part of her cancer treatment. Which nursing intervention should the nurse expect to complete?

Assess for signs of hematuria, urinary frequency, or dysuria

The patient will be receiving chemotherapy that will lower her white blood cell count. Monitoring for which finding will be a nursing priority.

Change in temperature

The 70 year old patient is to receive cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) for treatment of his lymphoma. His medical history is also positive for atrial fibrillation, arthritis, and cataracts. He takes digoxin 0.125 mg daily and naproxen 500 mg at bedtime. What should the nurse be aware of when giving these medications?

Cyclophosphamide decreases digoxin levels

The patient, 69 years old, is receiving cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), doxorubicin (Adriamycin), and methotrexate (Trexall) (CAM) for the treatment of prostate cancer. During morning rounds, the patient complains of feeling short of breath. Physical assessment reveals crackles in both lungs. What is the most likely cause of this clinical manifestation?

Doxorubicin

The nurse is preparing to administer chemotherapy, which can cause severe nausea and vomiting, to a patient in the outpatient clinic. Which nursing action would be most appropriate?

Give an antiemetic before administering chemotherapy

The nurse is teaching a community group about factors that influence the development of cancer in humans. Which information will the nurse include in this teaching?

Human papillomavirus is associated with cancer of the cervix.

A patient is being discharged after receiving IV chemotherapy. Which statement made by the patient indicates a need for additional teaching?

I will not need to know how to check my temperature

A patient in the outpatient oncology clinic has developed mucositis secondary to cancer therapy. Which statement made by the patient would indicate that she needs additional teaching about mucositis?

I will use a mouthwash that has an alcohol base

The nurse is caring for a patient receiving combination chemotherapy. The patient asks why she has to take more than one agent. What is the nurse's best response?

It has better response rates than single-agent chemotherapy

The 65 year old patient has metastatic cancer. He is scheduled to receive to palliative chemotherapy. He states the he does not understand why he should receive palliative chemotherapy if it won't kill the cancer cells. What is the best response?

It is done to improve your quality of life

The patient has diarrhea secondary to chemotherapy. What important information should be included in patient teaching about chemotherapy-related diarrhea?

Limit caffeine intake

The patient is in the outpatient oncology clinic for treatment of her colon cancer. She is receiving fluorouracil (5-FU, Adrucil) as part of her treatment and has recently been started on metronidazole (Flagyl) for treatment of trichomonas. What should concern the nurse about this order?

Metronidazole may increase 5-FU toxicity

One week ago in the outpatient oncology clinic, a patient received his first cycle of chemotherapy consisting of cylcophosphamide (Cytoxan), doxorubicin (Adriamycin) and fluorouracil (5-FU;Adrucil) (CAF). He returns to the clinic today for follow-up. Which nursing intervention would be most appropriate at this time?

Monitor blood counts and laboratory values

Which nursing outcome would be most appropriate as part of the planning for a patient scheduled to receive cyclophosphamide (Cytoxin)?

Patient will show no signs of hemorrhagic cystitis

The nurse is teaching a 29 year old patient about cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), which will be given as part of her treatment protocol for cancer. Which priority information should be included in the teaching?

Pregnancy should be prevented during treatment with cyclophosphamide

The nurse is administering doxorubicin (Adriamycin) to a patient in the outpatient oncology clinic. What is priority information to include in the patient teaching?

Report any shortness of breath, palpitations, or edema to your health care provider

A patient receiving cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), epirubicin (Ellence), and fluorouracil (5-FU; Adrucil) (CEF) has experienced severe nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea over the past week. He has lost 5.5 pounds. Which nursing diagnosis would be most appropriate?

Risk for altered nutrition

A patient is admitted to the hospital 1 week after receiving teniposide (VP-26) in the outpatient oncology clinic. On physical assessment, the nurse notes the presence of petechiae, ecchymosis, and bleeding on the toothbrush when the patient brushes his teeth. Which nursing diagnosis would be most appropriate?

Risk for bleeding

A patient has reached the nadir of his blood counts secondary to chemotherapy. Which nursing diagnosis is the most appropriate?

Risk for infection

A patient presents with neutropenia secondary to cancer therapy. Which nursing diagnosis would be the most appropriate?

Risk for infection

A patient is scheduled to receive vincristine (Oncovin) as part of treatment for cancer. The medication record for the patient indicates that he is receiving phenytoin (Dilantin) to control a seizure disorder. What should the nurse monitor for in this patient?

Seizures

A patient is receiving chemotherapy and asks the nurse about side effects. What should the nurse know concerning the side effects of chemotherapy.

Side effects are caused by toxicities to normal cells

The nurse is teaching a patient about doxorubicin (Adriamycin), which she will receive as part of her treatment for breast cancer. Which statement made by the patient indicates that she needs additional teaching?

This drug may make my urine turn blue

The nurse is administering doxorubicin (Adriamycin) to a patient diagnosed with cancer. What should the nurse keep in mind with regard to tissure necrosis associated with this drug?

Tissue necrosis occurs 3-4 weeks after administration

The nurse is preparing IV vinblastine (Velban), bleomycin (Blenoxane), and cisplatin (Platinol) (VBP) for administration to a patient on the nursing unit. Which precaution should the nurse taken when hanging IV chemotherapy?

Wear powder-free gloves

The patient, 61 years old, is to receive doxorubicin (Adriamycin) as part of his chemotherapy protocol. Which assessment is the most important before administering the medication?

cardiac status