Breast Cancer Exam 2025 Questions
and Answers
1. The nurse teaching a young womens community service group about breast self-
examination (BSE) will include that
a.BSE will reduce the risk of dying from breast cancer.
b.BSE should be done daily while taking a bath or shower.
c.annual mammograms should be scheduled in addition to BSE.
d.performing BSE after the menstrual period is more comfortable. - ANSWER✔✔-ANS:
D
Performing BSE at the end of the menstrual period will reduce the breast tenderness
associated with the procedure. The evidence is not clear that BSE reduces mortality
from breast cancer. BSE should be done monthly. Annual mammograms are not
routinely scheduled for women under age 40, and newer guidelines suggest delaying
them until age 50.
,2. During a well woman physical exam, a 43-year-old patient asks about her risk for
breast cancer. Which question is most pertinent for the nurse to ask?
a.Do you currently smoke tobacco?
b.Have you ever had a breast injury?
c.At what age did you start having menstrual periods?
d.Is there a family history of fibrocystic breast changes? - ANSWER✔✔-ANS: C
Early menarche and late menopause are risk factors for breast cancer because of the
prolonged exposure to estrogen that occurs. Cigarette smoking, breast trauma, and
fibrocystic breast changes are not associated with increased breast cancer risk.
3. A 51-year-old patient with a small immobile breast lump is considering having a fine-
needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy. The nurse explains that an advantage to this procedure
is that
a.FNA is done in the outpatient clinic and results are available in 1 to 2 days.
b.only a small incision is needed, resulting in minimal breast pain and scarring.
c.if the biopsy results are negative, no further diagnostic testing will be needed.
d.FNA is guided by a mammogram, ensuring that cells are taken from the lesion. -
ANSWER✔✔-ANS: A
FNA is done in outpatient settings and results are available in 24 to 48 hours. No
incision is needed. FNA may be guided by ultrasound, but not by mammogram.
, Because the immobility of the breast lump suggests cancer, further testing will be done
if the FNA is negative
4. Which assessment finding in a 36-year-old patient is most indicative of a need for
further evaluation?
a.Bilateral breast nodules that are tender with palpation
b.A breast nodule that is 1 cm in size, nontender, and fixed
c.A breast lump that increases in size before the menstrual period
d.A breast lump that is small, mobile, with a rubbery consistency - ANSWER✔✔-ANS:
B
Painless and fixed lumps suggest breast cancer. The other findings are more suggestive
of benign processes such as fibrocystic breasts and fibroadenoma
5. A 53-year-old woman at menopause is discussing the use of hormone therapy (HT)
with the nurse. Which information about the risk of breast cancer will the nurse
provide?
a.HT is a safe therapy for menopausal symptoms if there is no family history of BRCA
genes.
b.HT does not appear to increase the risk for breast cancer unless there are other risk
factors.
and Answers
1. The nurse teaching a young womens community service group about breast self-
examination (BSE) will include that
a.BSE will reduce the risk of dying from breast cancer.
b.BSE should be done daily while taking a bath or shower.
c.annual mammograms should be scheduled in addition to BSE.
d.performing BSE after the menstrual period is more comfortable. - ANSWER✔✔-ANS:
D
Performing BSE at the end of the menstrual period will reduce the breast tenderness
associated with the procedure. The evidence is not clear that BSE reduces mortality
from breast cancer. BSE should be done monthly. Annual mammograms are not
routinely scheduled for women under age 40, and newer guidelines suggest delaying
them until age 50.
,2. During a well woman physical exam, a 43-year-old patient asks about her risk for
breast cancer. Which question is most pertinent for the nurse to ask?
a.Do you currently smoke tobacco?
b.Have you ever had a breast injury?
c.At what age did you start having menstrual periods?
d.Is there a family history of fibrocystic breast changes? - ANSWER✔✔-ANS: C
Early menarche and late menopause are risk factors for breast cancer because of the
prolonged exposure to estrogen that occurs. Cigarette smoking, breast trauma, and
fibrocystic breast changes are not associated with increased breast cancer risk.
3. A 51-year-old patient with a small immobile breast lump is considering having a fine-
needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy. The nurse explains that an advantage to this procedure
is that
a.FNA is done in the outpatient clinic and results are available in 1 to 2 days.
b.only a small incision is needed, resulting in minimal breast pain and scarring.
c.if the biopsy results are negative, no further diagnostic testing will be needed.
d.FNA is guided by a mammogram, ensuring that cells are taken from the lesion. -
ANSWER✔✔-ANS: A
FNA is done in outpatient settings and results are available in 24 to 48 hours. No
incision is needed. FNA may be guided by ultrasound, but not by mammogram.
, Because the immobility of the breast lump suggests cancer, further testing will be done
if the FNA is negative
4. Which assessment finding in a 36-year-old patient is most indicative of a need for
further evaluation?
a.Bilateral breast nodules that are tender with palpation
b.A breast nodule that is 1 cm in size, nontender, and fixed
c.A breast lump that increases in size before the menstrual period
d.A breast lump that is small, mobile, with a rubbery consistency - ANSWER✔✔-ANS:
B
Painless and fixed lumps suggest breast cancer. The other findings are more suggestive
of benign processes such as fibrocystic breasts and fibroadenoma
5. A 53-year-old woman at menopause is discussing the use of hormone therapy (HT)
with the nurse. Which information about the risk of breast cancer will the nurse
provide?
a.HT is a safe therapy for menopausal symptoms if there is no family history of BRCA
genes.
b.HT does not appear to increase the risk for breast cancer unless there are other risk
factors.
