A patient who smokes tells the nurse, "I want to have a yearly chest x-ray so that if I get cancer, it will be detected early." Which response by the nurse is most appropriate?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A tumor must be at least 1 cm large before it is detectable by an x-ray and may already have metastasized by that time. Radiographs have low doses of radiation, and an annual x-ray alone is not likely to increase lung cancer risk. Insurance companies do not usually authorize x-rays for this purpose, but it would not be appropriate for the nurse to give this as the reason for not doing an x-ray. A yearly x-ray is not a risk factor for lung cancer.

A Patient Who Smokes Tells the Nurse, "I Want to Have