What side effect commonly occurs with corticosteroid (prednisone) therapy?
- A. Alopecia
- B. Anorexia
- C. Nausea and vomiting
- D. Susceptibility to infection
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Corticosteroids like prednisone cause immunosuppression, increasing infection risk. Alopecia is not a side effect, appetite increases rather than decreases, and gastric irritation occurs, not nausea and vomiting, which can be mitigated by taking with food.
You may also like to solve these questions
What pain management approach is most effective for a child who is having a bone marrow test?
- A. Relaxation techniques
- B. Administration of an opioid
- C. EMLA cream applied over site
- D. Conscious or unconscious sedation
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Conscious or unconscious sedation is most effective for managing pain during bone marrow tests, with relaxation, opioids, and EMLA as adjuncts. Sedation ensures comfort and minimizes distress during this invasive procedure.
The parents of a child with cancer tell the nurse that a bone marrow transplant (BMT) may be necessary. What information should the nurse recognize as important when discussing this with the family?
- A. BMT should be done at the time of diagnosis.
- B. Parents and siblings of the child have a 25% chance of being a suitable donor.
- C. If BMT fails, chemotherapy or radiotherapy will need to be continued.
- D. Finding a suitable donor involves matching antigens from the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: HLA matching is critical for successful BMT, ensuring donor compatibility. BMT timing varies by disease, parents share only about 50% genetic material, and discussing post-failure treatments is premature during initial planning.
What type of chemotherapeutic agent alters the function of cells by replacing a hydrogen atom of a molecule?
- A. Plant alkaloids
- B. Antimetabolites
- C. Alkylating agents
- D. Antitumor antibiotics
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Alkylating agents replace a hydrogen atom with an alkyl group, disrupting DNA and causing cell death. Plant alkaloids block spindle formation, antimetabolites mimic metabolic elements to halt DNA synthesis, and antitumor antibiotics interfere with DNA replication and transcription.
The nurse is preparing a child for possible alopecia from chemotherapy. What information should the nurse include?
- A. Wearing hats or scarves is preferable to a wig.
- B. Expose head to sunlight to stimulate hair regrowth.
- C. Hair may have a slightly different color or texture when it regrows.
- D. Regrowth of hair usually begins 12 months after chemotherapy ends.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Chemotherapy-induced alopecia may result in hair regrowing with a different color or texture. Children choose preferred head coverings, sunlight risks sunburn, and hair typically regrows within 3-6 months post-chemotherapy, not 12 months.
What chemotherapeutic agent is classified as an antitumor antibiotic?
- A. Cisplatin (Platinol AQ)
- B. Vincristine (Oncovin)
- C. Methotrexate (Texall)
- D. Daunorubicin (Cerubidine)
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Daunorubicin is an antitumor antibiotic that disrupts DNA replication. Cisplatin is an alkylating agent, vincristine is a plant alkaloid, and methotrexate is an antimetabolite, each with distinct mechanisms of action.
Nokea