A 73-year-old man was just diagnosed with stage II prostate cancer. The client's wife hears the word "cancer" and immediately begins crying. She says, "How long does he have to live?" Which response by the nurse is appropriate?
A)"Don't worry about how long he will live. Just live every day to the fullest and enjoy the time you have left together."
B)"If we treat the cancer aggressively with surgery and radiation, he should live several more years."
C)"Prostate cancer is usually aggressive in older men, so he may only have a short time to live."
D)"Older men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer usually die from causes other than the cancer."

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A)In an older man with a lower stage of cancer at diagnosis, the cancer is likely slow-growing, and he is more likely to die from other preexisting comorbidities than from the cancer itself. Therefore, the nurse cannot predict how long the client may live after diagnosis. Prostate cancer is usually aggressive in younger men, not older men. Early-stage prostate cancer in older men may not be treated aggressively. Instead, the healthcare team may take a more conservative "watchful waiting" approach, depending on other health conditions. It is not within the nurse's scope of practice to suggest aggressive treatment strategies. The nurse should not dismiss the client's or client's family's concerns by telling them to not worry.
B)In an older man with a lower stage of cancer at diagnosis, the cancer is likely slow-growing, and he is more likely to die from other preexisting comorbidities than from the cancer itself. Therefore, the nurse cannot predict how long the client may live after diagnosis. Prostate cancer is usually aggressive in younger men, not older men. Early-stage prostate cancer in older men may not be treated aggressively. Instead, the healthcare team may take a more conservative "watchful waiting" approach, depending on other health conditions. It is not within the nurse's scope of practice to suggest aggressive treatment strategies. The nurse should not dismiss the client's or client's family's concerns by telling them to not worry.
C)In an older man with a lower stage of cancer at diagnosis, the cancer is likely slow-growing, and he is more likely to die from other preexisting comorbidities than from the cancer itself. Therefore, the nurse cannot predict how long the client may live after diagnosis. Prostate cancer is usually aggressive in younger men, not older men. Early-stage prostate cancer in older men may not be treated aggressively. Instead, the healthcare team may take a more conservative "watchful waiting" approach, depending on other health conditions. It is not within the nurse's scope of practice to suggest aggressive treatment strategies. The nurse should not dismiss the client's or client's family's concerns by telling them to not worry.
D)In an older man with a lower stage of cancer at diagnosis, the cancer is likely slow-growing, and he is more likely to die from other preexisting comorbidities than from the cancer itself. Therefore, the nurse cannot predict how long the client may live after diagnosis. Prostate cancer is usually aggressive in younger men, not older men. Early-stage prostate cancer in older men may not be treated aggressively. Instead, the healthcare team may take a more conservative "watchful waiting" approach, depending on other health conditions. It is not within the nurse's scope of practice to suggest aggressive treatment strategies. The nurse should not dismiss the client's or client's family's concerns by telling them to not worry.

A 73-Year-Old Man Was Just Diagnosed with Stage II Prostate