HURST ONCOLOGY 1 POST QUIZ QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | COMPLETE HURST
ONCOLOGY 1 STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027
The nurse is teaching a group of female clients how to perform a self-breast exam. One client reports no
family history of breast cancer and indicates disinterest in learning the technique. What is the most
appropriate response by the nurse? - ANS ✔✔"Self-breast exams may detect changes early enough for
successful treatment."
Rationale
3. CORRECT. The nurse responds to this client's incorrect statement by presenting an accurate fact in a
non-judgmental and open manner, allowing for further discussion about breast cancer facts. The nurse
has a responsibility to provide the client important data about the topic of self-breast exams.
The nurse is educating a group of college students about early signs and symptoms of cancer. When
explaining the mnemonic "C-A-U-T-I-O-N", the nurse explains the 'N' stands for what sign/symptom? -
ANS ✔✔3. CORRECT. Nagging cough
The mnemonic "C-A-U-T-I-O-N" represents an easy way to recall the seven early warning signs and
symptoms of potential cancer. Each letter indicates a specific body alteration that should be reported to
the primary healthcare provider. 'N' stands for a nagging cough or hoarseness.
A client had radiation seeds implanted to treat prostate cancer. When entering the room to initiate
discharge teaching, the nurse observes the spouse emptying the client's urinal. What is the nurse's
priority action? - ANS ✔✔Begin discharge teaching to the client and spouse.
2. CORRECT. Internal radiation, also called brachytherapy, is placed inside the body as close to the cancer
as possible. Internal radiation therapy can be permanent or temporary as well as sealed or unsealed,
which refers to the amount of radiation risk posed by the client. Implanted seeds used to treat prostate
cancer are a type of sealed radiation, indicating the body fluids are not radioactive. Emptying the urinal
poses no risk to the spouse.
A client is to begin external beam radiation for Ewing's sarcoma. What symptoms would the nurse teach
the client to expect during radiation treatments? - ANS ✔✔2. Skin shedding
3. Erythema with pain
4. Pancytopenia
5. Exhaustion
2., 3, 4 and 5. CORRECT. External beam radiation uses high energy proton rays to deliver radiation from
outside the body. This therapy prevents cell reproduction and destroys cancer cells. Expected side effects
can be topical or physiological, depending on the area radiated. Skin radiated by the beam becomes
reddened (erythema), dry and peeling. Shedding skin and even blistering may occur because of multiple
treatments. As radiation enters tissues, damage affects even healthy tissue like bone marrow. The client
may eventually develop pancytopenia: a lack of all blood components, including red cells, white cells and
platelets. As the body struggles with cancer and the effects of radiation, the client may experience
severe or overwhelming fatigue which needs reported to the primary healthcare provider.
What does the nurse need to remember when caring for clients on the oncology unit who have a
radiation implant? - ANS ✔✔4. Wear film badge throughout assigned shift.
5. Educate visitors to stay at least 6 feet from the client.
ONCOLOGY 1 STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027
The nurse is teaching a group of female clients how to perform a self-breast exam. One client reports no
family history of breast cancer and indicates disinterest in learning the technique. What is the most
appropriate response by the nurse? - ANS ✔✔"Self-breast exams may detect changes early enough for
successful treatment."
Rationale
3. CORRECT. The nurse responds to this client's incorrect statement by presenting an accurate fact in a
non-judgmental and open manner, allowing for further discussion about breast cancer facts. The nurse
has a responsibility to provide the client important data about the topic of self-breast exams.
The nurse is educating a group of college students about early signs and symptoms of cancer. When
explaining the mnemonic "C-A-U-T-I-O-N", the nurse explains the 'N' stands for what sign/symptom? -
ANS ✔✔3. CORRECT. Nagging cough
The mnemonic "C-A-U-T-I-O-N" represents an easy way to recall the seven early warning signs and
symptoms of potential cancer. Each letter indicates a specific body alteration that should be reported to
the primary healthcare provider. 'N' stands for a nagging cough or hoarseness.
A client had radiation seeds implanted to treat prostate cancer. When entering the room to initiate
discharge teaching, the nurse observes the spouse emptying the client's urinal. What is the nurse's
priority action? - ANS ✔✔Begin discharge teaching to the client and spouse.
2. CORRECT. Internal radiation, also called brachytherapy, is placed inside the body as close to the cancer
as possible. Internal radiation therapy can be permanent or temporary as well as sealed or unsealed,
which refers to the amount of radiation risk posed by the client. Implanted seeds used to treat prostate
cancer are a type of sealed radiation, indicating the body fluids are not radioactive. Emptying the urinal
poses no risk to the spouse.
A client is to begin external beam radiation for Ewing's sarcoma. What symptoms would the nurse teach
the client to expect during radiation treatments? - ANS ✔✔2. Skin shedding
3. Erythema with pain
4. Pancytopenia
5. Exhaustion
2., 3, 4 and 5. CORRECT. External beam radiation uses high energy proton rays to deliver radiation from
outside the body. This therapy prevents cell reproduction and destroys cancer cells. Expected side effects
can be topical or physiological, depending on the area radiated. Skin radiated by the beam becomes
reddened (erythema), dry and peeling. Shedding skin and even blistering may occur because of multiple
treatments. As radiation enters tissues, damage affects even healthy tissue like bone marrow. The client
may eventually develop pancytopenia: a lack of all blood components, including red cells, white cells and
platelets. As the body struggles with cancer and the effects of radiation, the client may experience
severe or overwhelming fatigue which needs reported to the primary healthcare provider.
What does the nurse need to remember when caring for clients on the oncology unit who have a
radiation implant? - ANS ✔✔4. Wear film badge throughout assigned shift.
5. Educate visitors to stay at least 6 feet from the client.
