Chronic Illness Questions Related

Review Chronic Illness Questions related questions and content

The nurse teaches a postmenopausal patient with stage III breast cancer about the expected outcomes of cancer treatment. Which patient statement indicates that the teaching has been effective?

  • A. After cancer has not recurred for 5 years, it is considered cured.
  • B. The cancer will be cured if the entire tumor is surgically removed.
  • C. I will need follow-up examinations for many years after treatment before I can be considered cured.
  • D. Cancer is never cured, but the tumor can be controlled with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Stage III breast cancer's advanced local spread means long-term vigilance, not a quick cured' label. Five years recurrence-free is a milestone, but not universal some hit sooner, others never. Surgery alone won't cut it; chemo and radiation tag-team it. Never cured' overstates control's the goal, but cure's possible. Nurses in oncology drill this: years of follow-ups track sneaky recurrence, key for stage III's tricky prognosis.