Chapter 16: Cancer

Chapter 16: Cancer

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. While being prepared for a biopsy of a lump in the right breast, the patient asks the nurse
about the difference between a benign tumor and a malignant tumor. Which answer by
the nurse is correct?
a. “Benign tumors do not cause damage to other tissues.”
b. “Benign tumors are likely to recur in the same location.”
c. “Malignant tumors may spread to other tissues or organs.”
d. “Malignant cells reproduce more rapidly than normal cells.”
ANS: C
The major difference between benign and malignant tumors is that malignant tumors
invade adjacent tissues and spread to distant tissues and benign tumors never metastasize.
The other statements are inaccurate. Both types of tumors may cause damage to adjacent
tissues. Malignant cells do not reproduce more rapidly than normal cells. Benign tumors
do not usually recur.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: 263
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
2. A patient is receiving intravesical bladder chemotherapy. The nurse will monitor for
a. nausea.
b. alopecia.
c. mucositis.
d. hematuria.
ANS: D
The adverse effects of intravesical chemotherapy are confined to the bladder. The other
adverse effects are associated with systemic chemotherapy.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: 276-277 TOP: Nursing Process:
Evaluation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
3. The nurse in the outpatient clinic is caring for a 50-year-old who smokes heavily. To
reduce the patient’s risk of dying from lung cancer, which action will be best for the
nurse to take?
a. Educate the patient about the seven warning signs of cancer.
b. Plan to monitor the patient’s carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level.
c. Discuss the risks associated with cigarettes during every patient encounter.
d. Teach the patient about the use of annual chest x-rays for lung cancer screening.
ANS: C
Test Bank 16-2
Education about the risks associated with cigarette smoking is recommended at every
patient encounter, since cigarette smoking is associated with multiple health problems. A
tumor must be at least 0.5 cm large before it is detectable by current screening methods
and may already have metastasized by that time. Oncofetal antigens such as CEA may be
used to monitor therapy or detect tumor reoccurrence, but are not helpful in screening for
cancer. The seven warning signs of cancer are actually associated with fairly advanced
disease.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: 265 | 267-269
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
4. After the nurse has finished teaching a patient who is scheduled to receive external beam
radiation for abdominal cancer about appropriate diet, which dietary selection by the
patient indicates that the teaching has been effective?
a. Fresh fruit salad
b. Roasted chicken
c. Whole wheat toast
d. Cream of potato soup
ANS: B
To minimize the diarrhea that is commonly associated with bowel radiation, the patient
should avoid foods high in roughage, such as fruits and whole grains. Lactose-intolerance
may develop secondary to radiation, so dairy products also should be avoided.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: 283 TOP: Nursing Process:
Evaluation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity