ONS Chemotherapy Immunotherapy
Certificate Questions and Answers
Latest Version Already Passed
What is immunotherapy and how does it work in cancer treatment?
✔✔Immunotherapy boosts the body's immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells more
effectively.
Why is it important for patients to maintain proper hydration during chemotherapy?
✔✔Chemotherapy can cause dehydration due to side effects like vomiting and diarrhea, so
proper hydration helps minimize these effects and supports overall health.
What are the common side effects of chemotherapy?
✔✔Common side effects include fatigue, nausea, hair loss, weakened immune system, and
changes in appetite.
What is the difference between targeted therapy and traditional chemotherapy?
✔✔Targeted therapy specifically targets cancer cells and their surrounding environment,
whereas chemotherapy affects both healthy and cancerous cells throughout the body.
1
,Why is chemotherapy sometimes given in cycles?
✔✔Chemotherapy is given in cycles to allow the body time to recover between treatments and to
maximize the damage to cancer cells while minimizing harm to healthy tissues.
What is the role of a nurse in administering chemotherapy?
✔✔A nurse’s role includes preparing the chemotherapy drugs, ensuring proper administration,
monitoring for adverse reactions, and providing patient education and support.
What is a central venous catheter (CVC) and why is it used for chemotherapy?
✔✔A CVC is a tube inserted into a large vein to allow for the administration of chemotherapy
drugs, which may be too irritating for smaller veins.
What precautions should be taken when handling chemotherapy drugs?
✔✔Precautions include wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), using designated
containers for disposal, and ensuring proper ventilation in the treatment area.
What is the difference between intravenous (IV) and oral chemotherapy administration?
✔✔IV chemotherapy is given directly into the bloodstream, while oral chemotherapy is taken by
mouth and absorbed through the digestive system.
2
,How does immunotherapy differ from traditional cancer treatments like surgery and radiation?
✔✔Immunotherapy works by stimulating the immune system to fight cancer, while surgery and
radiation directly remove or target the tumor.
What are immune checkpoint inhibitors, and how do they function in cancer treatment?
✔✔Immune checkpoint inhibitors block proteins that prevent immune cells from attacking
cancer cells, enhancing the body’s immune response to the tumor.
What are the potential side effects of immunotherapy?
✔✔Immunotherapy side effects can include fatigue, rashes, gastrointestinal issues, and
inflammation of healthy organs like the lungs, liver, and colon.
How do monoclonal antibodies work in cancer treatment?
✔✔Monoclonal antibodies target specific antigens on cancer cells, marking them for destruction
by the immune system or blocking their ability to grow.
Why is it important to monitor blood counts during chemotherapy?
3
, ✔✔Chemotherapy can lower blood cell counts, leading to an increased risk of infection, anemia,
and bleeding, so regular monitoring helps manage these risks.
What is the role of antiemetic drugs in chemotherapy?
✔✔Antiemetic drugs help prevent or reduce nausea and vomiting, which are common side
effects of chemotherapy.
What is a vesicant drug, and why is it a concern in chemotherapy?
✔✔A vesicant drug can cause severe tissue damage if it leaks outside the vein, leading to
extravasation, which requires careful handling during administration.
How do cancer cells develop resistance to chemotherapy?
✔✔Cancer cells may develop resistance by mutating to evade the effects of chemotherapy drugs
or by pumping the drugs out of the cells before they can work.
What is the importance of managing pain in chemotherapy patients?
✔✔Proper pain management helps improve the quality of life for chemotherapy patients and
allows them to tolerate treatment better.
4
Certificate Questions and Answers
Latest Version Already Passed
What is immunotherapy and how does it work in cancer treatment?
✔✔Immunotherapy boosts the body's immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells more
effectively.
Why is it important for patients to maintain proper hydration during chemotherapy?
✔✔Chemotherapy can cause dehydration due to side effects like vomiting and diarrhea, so
proper hydration helps minimize these effects and supports overall health.
What are the common side effects of chemotherapy?
✔✔Common side effects include fatigue, nausea, hair loss, weakened immune system, and
changes in appetite.
What is the difference between targeted therapy and traditional chemotherapy?
✔✔Targeted therapy specifically targets cancer cells and their surrounding environment,
whereas chemotherapy affects both healthy and cancerous cells throughout the body.
1
,Why is chemotherapy sometimes given in cycles?
✔✔Chemotherapy is given in cycles to allow the body time to recover between treatments and to
maximize the damage to cancer cells while minimizing harm to healthy tissues.
What is the role of a nurse in administering chemotherapy?
✔✔A nurse’s role includes preparing the chemotherapy drugs, ensuring proper administration,
monitoring for adverse reactions, and providing patient education and support.
What is a central venous catheter (CVC) and why is it used for chemotherapy?
✔✔A CVC is a tube inserted into a large vein to allow for the administration of chemotherapy
drugs, which may be too irritating for smaller veins.
What precautions should be taken when handling chemotherapy drugs?
✔✔Precautions include wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), using designated
containers for disposal, and ensuring proper ventilation in the treatment area.
What is the difference between intravenous (IV) and oral chemotherapy administration?
✔✔IV chemotherapy is given directly into the bloodstream, while oral chemotherapy is taken by
mouth and absorbed through the digestive system.
2
,How does immunotherapy differ from traditional cancer treatments like surgery and radiation?
✔✔Immunotherapy works by stimulating the immune system to fight cancer, while surgery and
radiation directly remove or target the tumor.
What are immune checkpoint inhibitors, and how do they function in cancer treatment?
✔✔Immune checkpoint inhibitors block proteins that prevent immune cells from attacking
cancer cells, enhancing the body’s immune response to the tumor.
What are the potential side effects of immunotherapy?
✔✔Immunotherapy side effects can include fatigue, rashes, gastrointestinal issues, and
inflammation of healthy organs like the lungs, liver, and colon.
How do monoclonal antibodies work in cancer treatment?
✔✔Monoclonal antibodies target specific antigens on cancer cells, marking them for destruction
by the immune system or blocking their ability to grow.
Why is it important to monitor blood counts during chemotherapy?
3
, ✔✔Chemotherapy can lower blood cell counts, leading to an increased risk of infection, anemia,
and bleeding, so regular monitoring helps manage these risks.
What is the role of antiemetic drugs in chemotherapy?
✔✔Antiemetic drugs help prevent or reduce nausea and vomiting, which are common side
effects of chemotherapy.
What is a vesicant drug, and why is it a concern in chemotherapy?
✔✔A vesicant drug can cause severe tissue damage if it leaks outside the vein, leading to
extravasation, which requires careful handling during administration.
How do cancer cells develop resistance to chemotherapy?
✔✔Cancer cells may develop resistance by mutating to evade the effects of chemotherapy drugs
or by pumping the drugs out of the cells before they can work.
What is the importance of managing pain in chemotherapy patients?
✔✔Proper pain management helps improve the quality of life for chemotherapy patients and
allows them to tolerate treatment better.
4
