Nokea
During treatment of a patient who has breast cancer, the nurse hears the oncologist mention that the patient has reached the 'nadir.' The nurse knows that this term means which of these?
- A. The lowest level of neutrophils reached during therapy.
- B. The highest level of neutrophils reached during therapy.
- C. The point at which the adverse effects of chemotherapy will stop.
- D. The point at which the cytotoxic action against cancer cells is the highest.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The lowest neutrophil count reached after a course of chemotherapy is known as the nadir. The other options are incorrect.
You may also like to solve these questions
A patient, diagnosed with lymphoma, has an allergy to one of the proposed chemotherapy drugs. The tumor has not responded to other types of treatment. The nurse expects the oncologist to follow which course of treatment?
- A. The physician will choose another drug to use.
- B. The chemotherapy will be given along with supportive measures to treat a possible allergic reaction.
- C. The patient will receive reduced doses of chemotherapy for a longer period of time.
- D. The chemotherapy cannot be given because of the patient's allergy.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Even if a patient has a known allergic reaction to a given antineoplastic medication, the urgency of treating the patient's cancer may still necessitate administering the medication and then treating any allergic symptoms with supportive medications, such as antihistamines, corticosteroids, and acetaminophen.
The nurse is about to administer vincristine to a patient who has brain cancer. The patient has an intravenous port and an epidural line for pain medication. Which of these actions would the nurse question?
- A. Administer the vincristine via the intravenous line.
- B. Administer the vincristine via the intrathecal line (spinal route).
- C. Use an infusion pump for this medication.
- D. Give the vincristine with another chemotherapeutic agent.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Vincristine and other vinca alkaloids are not given intrathecally (via the spinal route) or by any other route except intravenously. Administering these drugs through the spinal route is almost always fatal, and the death is slow and excruciating. The error cannot be reversed once the medication is given. These drugs are often given in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents, and an infusion pump must be used for accurate delivery of medication.
One patient has cancer of the bone; another has cancer in the connective tissues of the thigh muscles; a third patient has cancer in the vascular tissues. Which of these is the correct term for these tumors?
- A. Sarcoma
- B. Leukemia
- C. Carcinoma
- D. Lymphoma
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Sarcomas are malignant tumors that arise from connective tissues. These tissues can be found in bone, cartilage, muscle, blood, lymphatic, and vascular tissues. The other options are incorrect.
A patient who has been on methotrexate therapy is experiencing mild pain. The patient is asking for aspirin for the pain. The nurse recognizes that which of these is true in this situation?
- A. The aspirin will aggravate diarrhea.
- B. The aspirin will mask signs of infection.
- C. Aspirin can lead to methotrexate toxicity.
- D. The aspirin will cause no problems for the patient on methotrexate.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Methotrexate interacts with weak organic acids, such as aspirin, and can lead to toxicity by displacing the methotrexate from protein-binding sites.
The nurse is teaching about infection-prevention measures with a patient who is receiving antineoplastic drug therapy. During a Teach-Back session, which statement by the patient indicates the need for further education?
- A. I will avoid those who have recently had a vaccination.
- B. I will eat only fresh fruits and raw vegetables.
- C. I will report a sore throat, cough, or low-grade temperature.
- D. It is important for both my family and me to practice good handwashing.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Patients who are neutropenic and susceptible to infections need to adhere to a low-microbe diet by washing fresh fruits and vegetables and making sure foods are well cooked. The other options are correct infection-prevention measures.