Which statement about carcinogenesis is accurate?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Carcinogenesis is the multi-step process by which normal cells transform into cancer cells, involving initiation, promotion, and progression. A key aspect of this process is angiogenesis, where tumor cells induce the formation of new blood vessels to supply nutrients and oxygen, enabling their growth beyond a minimal size. This is a critical step, as without a blood supply, tumors cannot sustain themselves or expand significantly. The statement that an initiated cell always becomes cancer is inaccurate because initiation alone is not sufficient; it requires promoters to progress. Similarly, the idea that cancer only becomes a problem at 1 cm oversimplifies the issue tumors can pose health risks earlier depending on location and type, though 1 cm is a detectable size. Normal hormones and proteins, like estrogen or growth factors, can indeed act as promoters in carcinogenesis, contradicting that option. Thus, the need for a tumor to develop its own blood supply is the most accurate statement, reflecting a fundamental biological requirement for cancer progression, which nurses must recognize when caring for oncology patients.