A 60-year-old patient with chronic myeloid leukemia will be treated in the home setting and the nurse is preparing appropriate health education. What topic should the nurse emphasize?
- A. The importance of adhering to the prescribed drug regimen
- B. The need to ensure that vaccinations are up to date
- C. The importance of daily physical activity
- D. The need to avoid shellfish and raw foods
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is typically treated with targeted therapies, such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), which can help control the disease and prolong survival. The effectiveness of these medications relies heavily on strict adherence to the prescribed drug regimen. Patients need to take their medication consistently and as directed to maintain therapeutic drug levels and effectively manage the disease. Non-adherence can lead to disease progression or resistance to treatment, which is why it is crucial for the nurse to emphasize this point during health education.
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Traditionally, nurses have been involved with tertiary cancer prevention. However, an increasing emphasis is being placed on both primary and secondary prevention. What would be an example of primary prevention?
- A. Yearly Pap tests
- B. Testicular self-examination
- C. Teaching patients to wear sunscreen
- D. Screening mammograms
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Primary prevention involves actions taken to reduce the risk of developing cancer by preventing exposure to known risk factors or promoting healthy behaviors. Teaching patients to wear sunscreen is an example of primary prevention because it aims to reduce the risk of skin cancer by minimizing exposure to harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. Encouraging protective measures such as wearing sunscreen, avoiding tanning beds, and wearing protective clothing are all steps to prevent skin cancer before it develops.
The clinical nurse educator is presenting health promotion education to a patient who will be treated for non-Hodgkin lymphoma on an outpatient basis. The nurse should recommend which of the following actions?
- A. Avoiding direct sun exposure in excess of 15 minutes daily
- B. Avoiding grapefruit juice and fresh grapefruit
- C. Avoiding highly crowded public places
- D. Using an electric shaver rather than a razor
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) often experience a compromised immune system due to both the disease itself and the effects of treatments like chemotherapy and radiation, which cause myelosuppression (decreased production of blood cells, including white blood cells). This puts them at significant risk for infections. Avoiding crowded places is a crucial preventive measure, as it reduces the patient's exposure to pathogens that could lead to infections, which can be particularly severe due to their weakened immune system.
A nurse working with oncology clients knows that an age-related decrease in which function increases the older client's susceptibility to infection during chemotherapy?
- A. Immune function.
- B. Kidney function.
- C. Liver function.
- D. Cardiac function.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: As people age, the immune system becomes less efficient, a phenomenon known as immunosenescence. This decline in immune function includes reduced production of immune cells (such as T cells and B cells) and diminished responses to infections. During chemotherapy, which further suppresses the immune system, older clients are at a significantly higher risk of developing infections due to this age-related decrease in immune function. This is especially concerning because chemotherapy targets rapidly dividing cells, which include immune cells, making it even harder for the body to fight off infections.
A patient newly diagnosed with cancer is scheduled to begin chemotherapy treatment and the nurse is providing anticipatory guidance about potential adverse effects. When addressing the most common adverse effect, what should the nurse describe?
- A. Pruritis (itching)
- B. Nausea and vomiting
- C. Altered glucose metabolism
- D. Confusion
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Nausea and vomiting are among the most common and distressing side effects of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy drugs target rapidly dividing cells, including cancer cells, but they also affect healthy cells in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, triggering the release of chemicals that stimulate the brain's vomiting center. These side effects can occur immediately (acute), be delayed, or even anticipatory, and often require management with antiemetic (anti-nausea) medications to improve the patient's comfort and quality of life during treatment.
A client is admitted to the hospital with a suspected diagnosis of Hodgkin¢â‚¬â„¢s disease. Which assessment finding would the nurse expect to note specifically in the client?
- A. Fatigue
- B. Weakness
- C. Weight gain
- D. Enlarged lymph nodes
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Hodgkin's disease (Hodgkin's lymphoma) is a type of cancer that originates in the lymphatic system, particularly affecting the lymph nodes. A hallmark sign of Hodgkin's disease is the painless enlargement of lymph nodes, often in the neck, armpit, or groin. These enlarged lymph nodes are typically firm and rubbery to the touch. This is one of the most distinctive and common early signs that healthcare providers look for when diagnosing the disease.