Breast Cancer Exam Questions with Correct Answers 100% Verified| Guaranteed Success
1. A 33-year-old patient has a saline breast implant inserted in the outpatient surgery area.
Which instruction will the nurse include in the discharge teaching?
a.Take aspirin every 4 hours to reduce inflammation.
b.Check wound drains for excessive blood or a foul odor.
c.Wear a loose-fitting bra to decrease irritation of the sutures.
d.Resume normal activities 2 to 3 days after the mammoplasty. ANS: B
The patient should be taught drain care because the drains will be in place for 2 or 3 days after
surgery. Normal activities can be resumed after 2 to 3 weeks. A bra that provides good support
is typically ordered. Aspirin will decrease coagulation and is typically not given after surgery.
2. The nurse is providing preoperative teaching about the transverse rectus abdominis
musculocutaneous (TRAM) procedure to a patient. Which information will the nurse include?
a.Saline-filled implants are placed under the pectoral muscles.
b.Recovery from the TRAM surgery takes at least 6 to 8 weeks.
c.Muscle tissue removed from the back is used to form a breast.
d.TRAM flap procedures may be done in outpatient surgery centers. ANS: B
Patients take at least 6 to 8 weeks to recover from the TRAM surgery. Tissue from the abdomen
is used to reconstruct the breast. The TRAM procedure can take up to 8 hours and requires
postoperative hospitalization. Saline implants are used in mammoplasty.
3. A patient newly diagnosed with stage I breast cancer is discussing treatment options with the
nurse. Which statement by the patient indicates that additional teaching may be needed?
a.There are several options that I can consider for treating the cancer.
b.I will probably need radiation to the breast after having the surgery.
c.Mastectomy is the best choice to decrease the chance of cancer recurrence.
d.I can probably have reconstructive surgery at the same time as a mastectomy. ANS: C
, The survival rates with lumpectomy and radiation or modified radical mastectomy are
comparable. The other patient statements indicate a good understanding of stage I breast
cancer treatment
4. Which information will the nurse include in patient teaching for a 36-year-old patient who is
scheduled for stereotactic core biopsy of the breast?
a.A local anesthetic will be given before the biopsy specimen is obtained.
b.You will need to lie flat on your back and lie very still during the biopsy.
c.A thin needle will be inserted into the lump and aspirated to remove tissue.
d.You should not have anything to eat or drink for 6 hours before the procedure. ANS: A
A local anesthetic is given before stereotactic biopsy. NPO status is not needed because no
sedative drugs are given. The patient is placed in the prone position. A biopsy gun is used to
obtain the specimens.
5. A student nurse prepares a list of teaching topics for a patient with a new diagnosis of breast
cancer. Which item should the charge nurse suggest that the student nurse omit from the
teaching topic list about breast cancer diagnostic testing?
a.CA 15-3 level testing
b.HER-2 receptor testing
c.Estrogen receptor testing
d.Oncotype DX assay testing ANS: A
Tumor markers such as CA 15-3 are used to monitor response to treatment for breast cancer,
not to detect or diagnose breast cancer. The other tests are likely to be used for additional
diagnostic testing in a patient with breast cancer
6. The nurse will anticipate teaching a 56-year-old patient who is diagnosed with lobular
carcinoma in situ (LCIS) about
a.lumpectomy.
1. A 33-year-old patient has a saline breast implant inserted in the outpatient surgery area.
Which instruction will the nurse include in the discharge teaching?
a.Take aspirin every 4 hours to reduce inflammation.
b.Check wound drains for excessive blood or a foul odor.
c.Wear a loose-fitting bra to decrease irritation of the sutures.
d.Resume normal activities 2 to 3 days after the mammoplasty. ANS: B
The patient should be taught drain care because the drains will be in place for 2 or 3 days after
surgery. Normal activities can be resumed after 2 to 3 weeks. A bra that provides good support
is typically ordered. Aspirin will decrease coagulation and is typically not given after surgery.
2. The nurse is providing preoperative teaching about the transverse rectus abdominis
musculocutaneous (TRAM) procedure to a patient. Which information will the nurse include?
a.Saline-filled implants are placed under the pectoral muscles.
b.Recovery from the TRAM surgery takes at least 6 to 8 weeks.
c.Muscle tissue removed from the back is used to form a breast.
d.TRAM flap procedures may be done in outpatient surgery centers. ANS: B
Patients take at least 6 to 8 weeks to recover from the TRAM surgery. Tissue from the abdomen
is used to reconstruct the breast. The TRAM procedure can take up to 8 hours and requires
postoperative hospitalization. Saline implants are used in mammoplasty.
3. A patient newly diagnosed with stage I breast cancer is discussing treatment options with the
nurse. Which statement by the patient indicates that additional teaching may be needed?
a.There are several options that I can consider for treating the cancer.
b.I will probably need radiation to the breast after having the surgery.
c.Mastectomy is the best choice to decrease the chance of cancer recurrence.
d.I can probably have reconstructive surgery at the same time as a mastectomy. ANS: C
, The survival rates with lumpectomy and radiation or modified radical mastectomy are
comparable. The other patient statements indicate a good understanding of stage I breast
cancer treatment
4. Which information will the nurse include in patient teaching for a 36-year-old patient who is
scheduled for stereotactic core biopsy of the breast?
a.A local anesthetic will be given before the biopsy specimen is obtained.
b.You will need to lie flat on your back and lie very still during the biopsy.
c.A thin needle will be inserted into the lump and aspirated to remove tissue.
d.You should not have anything to eat or drink for 6 hours before the procedure. ANS: A
A local anesthetic is given before stereotactic biopsy. NPO status is not needed because no
sedative drugs are given. The patient is placed in the prone position. A biopsy gun is used to
obtain the specimens.
5. A student nurse prepares a list of teaching topics for a patient with a new diagnosis of breast
cancer. Which item should the charge nurse suggest that the student nurse omit from the
teaching topic list about breast cancer diagnostic testing?
a.CA 15-3 level testing
b.HER-2 receptor testing
c.Estrogen receptor testing
d.Oncotype DX assay testing ANS: A
Tumor markers such as CA 15-3 are used to monitor response to treatment for breast cancer,
not to detect or diagnose breast cancer. The other tests are likely to be used for additional
diagnostic testing in a patient with breast cancer
6. The nurse will anticipate teaching a 56-year-old patient who is diagnosed with lobular
carcinoma in situ (LCIS) about
a.lumpectomy.