Chronic Disease Questions Related

Review Chronic Disease Questions related questions and content

The nurse is caring for a 39-year-old woman with a family history of breast cancer. She requested a breast tumor marking test and the results have come back positive. As a result, the patient is requesting a bilateral mastectomy. This surgery is an example of what type of oncologic surgery?

  • A. Salvage surgery
  • B. Palliative surgery
  • C. Prophylactic surgery
  • D. Reconstructive surgery
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: A bilateral mastectomy here is prophylactic removing nonvital breasts to prevent cancer in a high-risk patient with a positive tumor marker and family history. It's about risk reduction, not treatment of existing disease. Salvage surgery tackles recurrence after a less aggressive initial approach, like resecting a regrown tumor. Palliative surgery eases symptoms (e.g., pain from obstruction) in advanced cases, not prevention. Reconstructive surgery restores form or function post-treatment, like breast reconstruction after curative mastectomy. Prophylactic fits this preemptive strike, driven by genetic or familial risk (e.g., BRCA mutations), a growing trend in oncology to outpace cancer's onset, guided by nurses supporting informed, tough choices.