Cancer

A patient who is scheduled for a breast biopsy asks the nurse the difference between a benign tumor and a malignant tumor. Which answer by the nurse is accurate?

“Malignant tumors may spread to other tissues or organs.”

The nurse is caring for a patient receiving intravesical bladder chemotherapy. The nurse would monitor for which adverse effect?

Hematuria

A patient smokes 2 packs of cigarettes/day. Which action by the nurse could help the patient reduce the risk of lung cancer?

Discuss dangers associated with cigarettes during each patient encounter.

Which food choice would the nurse suggest for a patient scheduled to receive external-beam radiation for abdominal cancer?

Baked chicken

During a routine health examination, a 40-yr-old patient tells the nurse about a family history of colon cancer. Which action would the nurse take first?

Obtain more information about the patient‘s relatives.

A patient who is diagnosed with cervical cancer classified as Tis, N0, M0 asks the nurse what the letters and numbers mean. Which response by the nurse is accurate?

“The cancer involves only the cervix.”

The nurse teaches a patient who is scheduled for a prostate needle biopsy about the procedure. Which statement by the patient indicates that teaching was effective?

“The biopsy will help guide the treatment choices for my enlarged prostate.”

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?

“I will need follow-up examinations for many years after treatment before I can be considered cured.”

A patient with a large stomach tumor attached to the liver is scheduled for a debulking procedure. Which information would the nurse teach the patient about the expected outcome of this procedure?

Decreasing the tumor size will improve the effects of other therapy.

External-beam radiation is planned for a patient with cervical cancer. What instructions would the nurse give the patient to prevent complications from the effects of the radiation?

Clean the perianal area carefully after each bowel movement.

A patient with Hodgkin‘s lymphoma who is undergoing external radiation therapy tells the nurse, “I am so tired I can hardly get out of bed in the morning.” Which intervention would the nurse add to the plan of care?

Establish time to take a short walk almost every day.

The nurse is caring for a patient with colon cancer. Which information indicates a need for specific patient teaching before the patient begins external radiation therapy to the abdomen?

The patient swims several days each week.

A patient undergoing external radiation has developed a dry desquamation of the skin in the treatment area. The nurse teaches the patient about the management of the skin reaction. Which statement, if made by the patient, indicates the teaching was effective?

“I can apply aloe vera gel after I bathe.”

A patient with metastatic colon cancer has severe vomiting after each administration of chemotherapy. Which action would the nurse take?

Administer prescribed antiemetics 1 hour before the treatments.

An IV vesicant chemotherapeutic agent is prescribed for a patient. Which action is would the nurse plan to take?

Stop the infusion if swelling is observed at the site.

A chemotherapy drug that causes alopecia is prescribed for a patient. Which action would the nurse take to support the patient‘s self-esteem?

Encourage the patient to purchase a wig or hat to wear when hair loss begins.

A patient who has ovarian cancer is crying and tells the nurse, “My husband rarely visits. He just doesn‘t care.” The husband tells the nurse that he does not know what to say to his wife. Which problem would the nurse address in the plan of care?

Difficulty coping

A patient receiving head and neck radiation for larynx cancer has ulcerations over the oral mucosa and tongue and thick, ropey saliva. Which instructions would the nurse give to this patient?

Rinse the mouth before and after each meal and at bedtime with a saline solution

A patient has inadequate nutrition due to painful oral ulcers. Which nursing action will be most effective in improving oral intake?

Apply prescribed anesthetic gel to oral lesions before meals

A widowed mother of 4 school-age children is hospitalized with metastatic ovarian cancer. The patient is crying and tells the nurse that she does not know what will happen to her children when she dies. Which response would the nurse provide?

“Would you like to talk about options for the care of your children?”