The physician tells the patient that there will be an initial course of treatment with continued maintenance treatments and ongoing observation for signs and symptoms over a prolonged period of time. You can help the patient by reinforcing that the primary goal for this type of treatment is:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The physician's plan initial treatment, maintenance, and long-term monitoring suggests a chronic cancer unamenable to cure, aiming instead to control growth and spread. Control stabilizes disease, extending life and quality, unlike cure, which eradicates cancer, or permanent remission, implying no recurrence both unfeasible here. Palliation focuses on symptom relief, not longevity, misaligning with ongoing treatments. Reinforcing control clarifies expectations, reducing anxiety by framing therapy as proactive management, not defeat. Nurses bolster this by explaining observation's role in adjusting care, aligning patient understanding with realistic goals, vital for adherence and emotional resilience in prolonged cancer battles.