Question 1

Onxol (paclitaxel)is used to treat testicular cancer.This drug directly interferes with or stops cell division.The nurse knows that this medication is which preparation?

Accepted Answer

Mitotic inhibitors are a special group of medications that directly interfere with or stop cell division.

Question 2

For which reason must a patient keep his or her chemotherapy medications in a locked cabinet?

Accepted Answer

These medications are toxic,and chemotherapy patients should keep any medication,when taken home,in a locked cabinet away from children and pets.

Question 3

Which healthy cells in the body are commonly affected by antineoplastic agents?

Accepted Answer

The cells in the gastrointestinal tract are rapidly dividing and growing.Antineoplastic drugs affect rapidly growing normal cells.

Question 4

The effectiveness of antineoplastic agents can be best evaluated by which means?

Accepted Answer

Follow-up laboratory work and x-ray studies are used to determine the response to medication.

Question 5

For which condition should the nurse take special care in an older patient who is receiving chemotherapy?

Accepted Answer

The nurse must take special care to hydrate the patient because nausea,anorexia,and diarrhea all work to dehydrate patients who are undergoing chemotherapy.

Question 6

Which common adverse reaction is associated with antineoplastic drugs?

Accepted Answer

The action of antineoplastic agents on normal cells causes many adverse reactions,which include alopecia and bone marrow depression.

Question 7

The nurse is completing education for a patient receiving Novantrone (mitoxantrone)for treatment of leukemia.The nurse teaches the patient that he or she may experience which signs or symptoms?

Accepted Answer

Novantrone (mitoxantrone)may cause petechiae,nausea,vomiting,diarrhea,stomatitis,sepsis,fungal infections,dyspnea,fever,and alopecia.

Question 8

Which precautions should nurses administering antineoplastic preparations use?

Accepted Answer

Administration of these toxic products may pose a safety hazard to the nurse and patient.There should be a special area designated for mixing these preparations.

Question 9

Which over-the-counter medications might a patient on chemotherapy use to control nausea?

Accepted Answer

Patients who are undergoing chemotherapy might explore herbal preparations.

Question 10

Antioxidants are viewed as helpful in the prevention and treatment of cancer because they have which effects?

Accepted Answer

Antioxidants are viewed as helpful because of their ability to eliminate free radicals.These are substances that remain after normal metabolism of a chemical; the residue may damage the cell.

Question 11

In observing a chemotherapy patient,an LPN/LVN must be aware of adverse effects from other products.The patient tells the nurse that he has found an herbal preparation to help control his nausea.Which represents the nurse's best response?

Accepted Answer

Some herbal preparations may be helpful in dealing with nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy.The nurse should find out what herbal preparation the patient is taking to ensure it does not react negatively with the other medications the patient is prescribed.

Question 12

Which person is qualified to prepare and administer antineoplastic drugs?

Accepted Answer

Some preparations should be given only by a physician or other health care provider such as a specially trained chemotherapy nurse.

Question 13

The nurse is caring for a patient receiving an antineoplastic medication IV.While the medication is infusing,the IV needle becomes dislodged and goes in to the tissue.What is the highest priority for this patient at this time?

Accepted Answer

Some medications given intravenously will damage and destroy the tissues of the skin if the IV needle becomes dislodged and medication goes into the tissue and not the veins.This is called extravasation.Medication must be available that can be immediately injected directly into the skin to counter the effect of the antitumor medicine.Failure to act quickly may result in huge areas of tissue damage,sometimes destroying the ability of the hand or arm to function.

Question 14

A patient in treatment for multiple myeloma is on Mesnex (ifosfamide).She reports to the nurse that she is having bouts of nausea and has been unable to eat.Which would be the best advice to give her?

Accepted Answer

The patient may not be able to eat anything at times but may find holding ice chips in the mouth to be helpful.

Question 15

The nurse may include which diagnosis for a patient taking an antineoplastic medication?

Accepted Answer

Nausea,vomiting,anorexia,and diarrhea are seen with almost all of the antineoplastic agents.

Question 16

A chemotherapy patient should be instructed to report which signs or symptoms to his or her health care provider? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

In patients on chemotherapy,dehydration must be avoided,and bowel regularity must be maintained.

Question 17

What is the effect of chemotherapeutic agents on cells?

Accepted Answer

Chemotherapeutic agents slow cell growth or delay the spread of malignant cells into other parts of the body.

Question 18

A patient taking Mustargen is suffering from alopecia.The nurse should include which intervention in the care plan?

Accepted Answer

Hair loss secondary to chemotherapy is usually of great concern to the patient.

Question 19

For which organ may a patient with cancer be prescribed hormones?

Accepted Answer

Some tumors,such as cancer of the prostate,may depend on male or female hormones,the chemicals produced by the sex glands.

Question 20

Which term refers to a medication that interferes with metabolic functions in cells?

Accepted Answer

Antimetabolites disrupt normal cell function by interfering with various metabolic functions of the cells.

Quiz 11: Antineoplastic Medications

Onxol (paclitaxel) is used to treat testicular cancer.This drug directly interferes with or stops cell division.The nurse knows that this medication is which preparation?