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When reviewing the chart for a patient with cervical cancer, the nurse notes that the cancer is staged as Tis, N0, M0. Which of the following statements is accurate related to this staging?
- A. The cancer is localized to the cervix.
- B. The cancer cells are well differentiated.
- C. Further testing is needed to determine the spread of the cancer.
- D. It is difficult to determine the original site of the cervical cancer.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Cancer in situ indicates that the cancer is localized to the cervix and is not invasive at this time. Cell differentiation is not indicated by clinical staging. Because the cancer is in situ, the origin is the cervix. Further testing is not indicated given that the cancer has not spread.
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The nurse is teaching a patient who has a new diagnosis of acute leukemia about the complications associated with chemotherapy. The patient is restless and is looking away, never making eye contact. After the teaching, the patient asks the nurse to repeat all of the information. Based on this assessment, which of the following nursing diagnoses is most likely for this patient?
- A. Ineffective denial related to ineffective coping strategies (leukemia diagnosis)
- B. Acute confusion related to pain (infiltration of leukemia cells into the central nervous system)
- C. Anxiety related to threat of death (leukemia diagnosis)
- D. Deficient knowledge (of chemotherapy) related to insufficient interest in learning
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The patient who has a new cancer diagnosis is likely to have high anxiety, which may impact learning and require that the nurse repeat and reinforce information. The patient's history of a recent diagnosis suggests that infiltration of the leukemia is not a likely cause of the confusion. The patient asks for the information to be repeated, indicating that lack of interest in learning and denial are not etiological factors.
The nurse is caring for a patient with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who is receiving interleukin-2 (IL-2) as an adjuvant therapy. Which of the following mechanisms of action should the nurse teach the patient about this therapy?
- A. It enhances immunological response to tumour cells.
- B. It stimulates malignant cells in the resting phase to enter mitosis.
- C. It prevents the bone marrow depression caused by chemotherapy.
- D. It protects normal cells from the harmful effects of chemotherapy.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: IL-2 enhances the ability of the patient's own immune response to suppress tumour cells. IL-2 does not protect normal cells from damage caused by chemotherapy, stimulate malignant cells to enter mitosis, or prevent bone marrow depression.
The nurse is teaching a patient who is postmenopausal and has stage III breast cancer about the expected outcomes of her 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 tumour is surgically removed.
- C. Cancer is never considered cured, but the tumour can be controlled with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.
- D. I will need to have follow-up examinations for many years after I have treatment before I can be considered cured.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The risk of recurrence varies by the type of cancer. For breast cancer in postmenopausal women the patient needs at least 20 disease-free years to be considered cured. Some cancers are considered cured after a shorter time span, or after surgery, but stage III breast cancer will require additional therapies and ongoing follow-up.
External-beam radiation is planned for a patient with endometrial cancer. The nurse teaches the patient which of the following important measures to help prevent complications from the effects of the radiation?
- A. Test all stools for the presence of blood.
- B. Maintain a high-residue, high-fibre diet.
- C. Clean the perianal area carefully after every bowel movement
- D. Inspect the mouth and throat daily for the appearance of thrush.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Radiation to the abdomen will affect organs in the radiation path, such as the bowel, and cause frequent diarrhea. Careful cleaning of this area will help decrease the risk for skin breakdown and infection. Stools are likely to have occult blood from the inflammation associated with radiation, so routine testing of stools for blood is not indicated. Radiation to the abdomen will not cause stomatitis. A low-residue diet is recommended to avoid irritation of the bowel when patients receive abdominal radiation.
A patient who has severe pain associated with terminal liver cancer is being cared for at home by family members. Which of the following findings indicates that teaching regarding pain management has been effective?
- A. The patient agrees to take the medications by the IV route in order to improve analgesic effectiveness.
- B. The patient uses the ordered opioid pain medication whenever the pain is greater than 5 (0-10 scale).
- C. The patient takes opioids around the clock on a regular schedule and uses additional doses when breakthrough pain occurs.
- D. The patient states that nonopioid analgesics may be used when the maximal dose of the opioid is reached without adequate pain relief.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: For persistent cancer pain, analgesics should be taken on a scheduled basis, with additional doses as needed for breakthrough pain. Taking the medications only when pain reaches a certain level does not provide effective pain control. Although nonopioid analgesics also may be used, there is no maximum dose of opioid. Opioids are given until pain control is achieved. The IV route is not more effective than the oral route, and the oral route is preferred.