NURS 231: Pathophysiology 2022
Module 2 Exam
Question 1
pts
True/False:
Blood tests for tumor markers are the single best screening tool for cancer. Why or why not?
Your Answer:
False. Tumor markers, which can be used for establishig prognosis, monitoring treatment and detecting
recurrent disease, have limitiations. Under benign situations, tumor markers can still be elevated.
Whereas in early stages of malignancy, not elevated. They have a lack of specificity and are then limited
in their ability to screen or diagnose accuratley.
False, they are elevated in benign conditions, most are not elevated in the early stages of
malignancy.
Question 2
pts
Tissue biopsy is of critical importance in what role?
Your Answer:
Play a critical role in histologic and cytologic studies for diagnosis of cancers.
Diagnosing the correct cancer and histology.
Question 3
pts
1. List two signs or symptoms a patient may present with that might indicate a cancer diagnosis:
2. What are two side effects commonly experienced by cancer patients?
Your Answer:
1) Bleeding and/or weight loss
2) Anorexia, hair loss
1. Bleeding; sore that doesn’t heal; fluid in the pleural, pericardial, or peritoneal spaces; chest
pain, shortness of breath, cough, abdominal discomfort or swelling. Other possible answers can
include a mass or lump, pain (need to be specific), fatigue, fevers, weight loss
2. Weight loss, wasting of body fat and muscle tissue, weakness, anorexia, and anemia, fatigue,
sleep disturbances
Question 4
pts
Explain the TNM system:
Your Answer:
TNM system is a detailed staging system, created by AJCC, is used by cancer facilites. It classifies
cancers into stages using 3 tumor components; Tumor, Nodes, Metastasis. T is size and spread of the
primary tumor. N is how involved the lymph nodes. M is the extent of metastatic involvement.
Classification:
Tx, T0, Tis, T1-4
Nx, N0, N1-3
Mx, M0, M1
T is the size and local spread of the primary tumor.
N is the involvement of the regional lymph nodes.
M is the extent of the metastatic involvement.
, Question 5
pts
1. When would surgery be appropriate in the treatment of cancer?
2. Most chemotherapeutic drugs cause pancytopenia due to bone marrow suppression. What are the 3
possible adverse outcomes of this?
Your Answer:
1. Surgery can be used if the tumor is solid and small with well-defines margins. Also can be used to treat
oncologic emergencies and be used as prophylactic measures.
2. 3 possible adverse outcomes are neutropenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia.
1. Surgery is often the first treatment for solid tumors. If the tumor is small with well-defined
margins, it can be removed completely. It is also used for oncologic emergencies and prophylactic
surgery in high risk patients.
2.
Neutropenia- risk for infections
Anemia- causing fatigue
Thrombocytopenia- risk for bleeding
Question 6
2..5 pts
True/False:
Cell proliferation is the process in which proliferating cells become more specialized cell types.
True
Correct!
False
False, cell differentiation
Question 7
2..5 pts
True/False:
Cell differentiation is the process of increasing cell numbers by mitotic cell division.
True
Correct!
False
False, cell proliferation
Question 8
2..5 pts
What are two important properties that stem cells possess?
Your Answer:
Stem cells possess self-renewal and potency.
Self renewal means that they can undergo mitotic divisions while maintaining undifferentiated state.
Potency is the differentiation potential of stem cells.
Potency and self-renewal