Deck 56: Basic Principles of Antineoplastic Therapy

Question 1

The nurse is providing teaching to a client who has just been diagnosed with breast cancer.How would the nurse describe a malignant tumor? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.Standard Text: Select all that apply.

A)Slow growing
B)Invasive
C)Lethal if left untreated
D)May be classified as a carcinoma
E)May be classified as a sarcoma

Answer 1

Invasive
Lethal if left untreated
May be classified as a carcinoma
May be classified as a sarcoma

Question 2

Which statement is not true of adjuvant chemotherapy?

A)Adjuvant therapy is the administration of antineoplastic drugs after surgery or radiation therapy.
B)Adjuvant therapy is the administration of antineoplastic drugs before surgery or radiation therapy.
C)A goal of adjuvant therapy is to treat any micrometastases that might be developing.
D)A goal of adjuvant therapy is to rid the body of any cancerous cells that were not removed during surgery.

Answer 2

Adjuvant therapy is the administration of antineoplastic drugs before surgery or radiation therapy.

Question 3

A client is receiving chemotherapy in the treatment of breast cancer.The nurse explains that although chemotherapy has several goals,it does not attempt to:

A)control the cancer.
B)provide palliation.
C)cure the cancer.
D)prevent transmission of the cancer.

Answer 3

prevent transmission of the cancer.

Question 4

A client with cancer asks the nurse where cancer comes from.What is the best explanation by the nurse?

A)"Cancer cells are body cells that have lost the ability to regulate growth."
B)"Cancer is caused primarily by viruses in the environment."
C)"Cancer is genetic; you inherited the predisposition for your cancer."
D)"Cigarette smoking and secondhand smoke are the primary causes of cancer."

Question 5

The community health nurse is addressing a neighborhood group concerned about high rates of cancer.The nurse describes chemical carcinogens that contribute to the incidence of cancer,such as: Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.Standard Text: Select all that apply.

A)tobacco.
B)alcohol.
C)asbestos.
D)ultraviolet light.
E)human papillomavirus (HPV).

Question 6

Which causes are not part of the etiology of cancer?

A)Biological causes
B)Chemical causes
C)Structural causes
D)Physical causes

Question 7

Receiving the HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer is an example of what type of prevention?

A)Secondary
B)Tertiary
C)Palliation
D)Primary

Question 8

The acronym that the American Cancer Society recommends to help people remember what to look for when assessing themselves for cancer is:

A)CAUTION.
B)CANCER.
C)CHANGES.
D)PREVENTION.

Question 9

An inaccurate statement about the process of staging cancer is that staging:

A)Determines where the cancer is located.
B)Determines the extent of the cancer invasion.
C)Helps the health care provider determine the best course of treatment.
D)Compares the appearance of cancer cells with that of normal cells.

Question 10

The staging and grading of cancer are performed:

A)after the last chemotherapy treatment is completed.
B)when the client's symptoms start to worsen.
C)after the first chemotherapy treatment is completed.
D)upon initial diagnosis of cancer.

Question 11

Which statement is true regarding grading of cancer cells?

A)Grading has very few limitations,as tumors contain cell types that are similar in appearance.
B)If the biopsy cells appear differentiated and similar to parent cells,the tumor receives a grade of 1.
C)Grading does not change much over time as the tumor evolves.
D)If the biopsy cells appear differentiated and similar to parent cells,the tumor receives a grade of 4.

Question 12

The nurse recognizes that teaching about secondary prevention has been effective when the client states:

A)"If I stop smoking,I can decrease my risk of lung cancer."
B)"I need to have a Pap smear annually to detect any signs of cervical cancer."
C)"If I get a cancerous lesion removed early,I can prevent more areas of skin cancer."
D)"If I wear sunscreen,I can prevent skin cancer."

Question 13

The nurse is caring for a client with cancer.The family asks the nurse to explain the differences between benign and malignant tumors.The nurse states that the main difference is:

A)"Benign tumors are fast growing,remain localized,and can kill the host."
B)"Malignant tumors are slow growing but invasive,and they can kill the host."
C)"Benign tumors are slow growing but invasive."
D)"Malignant tumors are rapidly growing and invasive,and they can kill the host."

Question 14

The nurse assesses several clients for their potential risk for developing cancer.Which client does the nurse assess to be at greatest risk for developing cancer?

A)The client who is an alcoholic and eats a diet high in fatty foods
B)The client who frequently forgets breast self-exams but has routine mammograms
C)The client who is 10 pounds overweight but exercises regularly
D)The client who applies sunscreen when arriving at the beach

Question 15

The nurse on an oncology unit anticipates that which clients are most likely to receive palliative cancer treatment? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.Standard Text: Select all that apply.

A)A client with Hodgkin lymphoma
B)A client with osteosarcoma
C)A client with choriocarcinoma
D)A client with advanced pancreatic cancer
E)A client with Kaposi sarcoma

Question 16

Unlike most normal cells,cancerous cells are able to move to other places in the body,traveling to distant sites where they populate new tumors.This process is called:

A)grading.
B)carcinogenesis.
C)metastasis.
D)angiogenesis.

Question 17

Cancer is a disease characterized by:

A)normal,controlled cell division.
B)abnormal,uncontrolled cell division.
C)normal,uncontrolled cell division.
D)abnormal,controlled cell division.

Question 18

The community health nurse is planning programs aimed at reducing the incidence of cancer.Which strategies would the nurse plan to implement as part of primary prevention? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.Standard Text: Select all that apply.

A)Providing health counseling and education
B)Reducing tobacco use
C)Providing annual Papanicolaou (Pap)smears
D)Instructing women in breast self-examination
E)Helping clients maintain weight within recommended levels

Question 19

A client has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.The family asks the nurse what staging is.The nurse explains that: Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.Standard Text: Select all that apply.

A)Staging determines the location of the cancer.
B)The involvement of lymph nodes is assessed during staging.
C)Staging changes as the cancer progresses.
D)The lower the stage of cancer at diagnosis,the better the prognosis.
E)Staging examines cancerous cells under a microscope and compares them to normal cells.

Question 20

The nurse on an oncology unit recognizes that a patient with which type of advanced cancer would most likely require palliation therapy?

A)Bladder cancer
B)Liver cancer
C)Skin cancer
D)Pancreatic cancer

Question 21

The nurse understands that clients placed in reverse isolation might exhibit signs of depression because:

A)They often have additional side effects to therapy.
B)They often have a more severe form of cancer.
C)They might believe they are in isolation and that family will not want to visit because of the need to prevent infections that could be life-threatening.
D)They always become claustrophobic.

Question 22

A client receiving antineoplastic agents in the treatment of lung cancer has been told that treatment options are limited.The nurse explains that lung cancer has a decreased sensitivity to antineoplastic agents because lung cancer cells:

A)have a very erratic cell cycle,and there is little difference between the number of replicating and resting cells.
B)grow for a long time before detection and are therefore less sensitive to antineoplastic agents.
C)grow in a high-oxygen environment and are therefore not very sensitive to antineoplastic agents.
D)have a low growth fraction,so there is little difference between the number of replicating and resting cells.

Question 23

A client is being prepared for the delivery of an intravenous chemotherapeutic agent.The client asks why the drug cannot be given by mouth.The nurse explains that an advantage to intravenous delivery is that:

A)It protects the client from environmental infections.
B)A consistent serum drug level can be obtained.
C)It is administered outside of the home.
D)It can protect the veins during administration.

Question 24

A female client has experienced alopecia due to chemotherapy.She is distraught and feels that no one will want to look at her.How can the nurse best address the client's concerns?

A)Show the client photos of cancer survivors whose hair grew back more thickly
B)Discuss the client's feelings about the effects of her hair loss
C)Have a cancer survivor visit the client and discuss wearing a wig
D)Tell the client that her hair will grow back in a few weeks

Question 25

The nurse on an oncology unit is planning care for clients with various types of cancer.The nurse recognizes that certain cancer cells have a low growth fraction and are less sensitive to chemotherapeutic agents,including: Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.Standard Text: Select all that apply.

A)leukemia cells.
B)lymphoma cells.
C)breast cancer cells.
D)lung cancer cells.
E)bone marrow cells.

Question 26

The nurse is preparing to administer methotrexate by mouth to a client with cancer.For what reasons would the nurse use the PO route rather than the other routes of administration? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.Standard Text: Select all that apply.

A)The PO route is more acceptable to the client.
B)The PO route decreases the risk for phlebitis.
C)The PO route decreases the risk for tissue necrosis.
D)The PO route decreases the risk for nausea.
E)The PO route decreases the risk for vomiting.

Question 27

Most chemotherapeutic medications are administered intermittently,using specific dosing schedules.A factor that does not affect the dosing schedule is:

A)the psychological stage of the client.
B)the condition of the client.
C)the type of tumor.
D)the stage of the disease.

Question 28

The nurse is caring for a client for myelosuppression.Which lab values would the nurse monitor for this client? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.Standard Text: Select all that apply.

A)RBC
B)WBC
C)Platelets
D)Potassium
E)Sodium

Question 29

A client is receiving a cell-cycle-specific medication for the treatment of leukemia.The nurse recognizes that in order for these drugs to kill the most cancer cells,they should be administered in:

A)divided,infrequent doses.
B)divided,frequent doses.
C)a single dose each day.
D)a large,one-time dose.

Question 30

Which statement is not one of the reasons that clients undergoing chemotherapy usually receive several rounds of treatment spaced over time?

A)Side effects can occur,and the client needs time to recover.
B)The neutrophil count can decrease,so time between treatments is necessary for the body to make more neutrophils to boost the immune system.
C)The cost of treatments is very high.
D)Each round of chemotherapy kills only a set percentage of cancer cells.

Question 31

A client who is receiving chemotherapy frequently complains of headache.The most effective nursing intervention would be to administer:

A)ibuprofen.
B)naproxen.
C)aspirin.
D)acetaminophen.

Question 32

The client receives several chemotherapeutic agents as treatments for cancer.The client asks the nurse why he needs so many drugs.What is the best response by the nurse?

A)"Using multiple drugs means a shorter treatment time."
B)"Using multiple drugs will help kill more of the cancer."
C)"Using multiple drugs is more cost-effective in treating cancer."
D)"Using multiple drugs decreases the incidence of side effects."

Question 33

Which statement most accurately describes the cell kill hypothesis?

A)It is a model that predicts the amount of normal cells that will be affected by antineoplastic drugs.
B)It is a model that predicts the ability of antineoplastic drugs to eliminate cancer cells.
C)It is a model that predicts how invasive a cancer has become.
D)It is a model that compares the appearance of potential cancer cells with that of normal parent cells.

Question 34

When discussing the outcome of treatment with a client,the nurse states that theoretically the cancer has been "cured" when:

A)The client no longer experiences the physiologic effects of cancer.
B)Every single cancer cell in the tumor has been eliminated.
C)The tumor cannot be identified on a CT scan.
D)The client's absolute neutrophil rises back to a normal level.

Question 35

Which statement most accurately describes the action that occurs during stage S (synthesis)of the cell cycle?

A)The cell undergoes prophase,metaphase,anaphase,and telophase.
B)The cell makes additional proteins that are necessary for cell division.
C)The cell conducts metabolism,impulse conduction,contraction,or secretion.
D)The cell duplicates its DNA.

Question 36

What would be the best response by the nurse to a client who says that her friends might not accept her now that she has had a mastectomy?

A)"It is just a mastectomy; don't worry so much."
B)"You should get some new friends."
C)"I understand your concerns about your body changes.Let's talk about it."
D)"It is normal to be worried about what other people think.Your friends will get over it."

Question 37

The client experiences nausea and vomiting soon after chemotherapy treatments.What is the best action by the nurse?

A)Administer an antiemetic 1-2 hours before chemotherapy.
B)Increase fluid intake to flush the kidneys prior to chemotherapy.
C)Restrict food on the day the client receives chemotherapy.
D)Administer a sleeping medication during chemotherapy.