1
PORTAGE LEARNING PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
NURS 231/BIOD 331 EXAM Questions and
Answers Latest Updates 2025 TOP RATED
Commented [p1]:
A+
Both methods are used to determine the course of the disease
and aid in selecting an appropriate treatment or management
plan. - ANSWERWhat is the purpose of grading and staging a
tumor?
Curative, control, and palliative - ANSWERWhat are the 3
possible goals of cancer treatment?
If the tumor is small with well-defined margins; to treat oncologic
emergencies; prophylactically - ANSWERWhen is surgery
appropriate in the treatment of cancer?
Radiation therapy uses high-energy particles or waves to destroy
or damage cancer cells. This leads to the creation of free radicals,
which damage cell structures. Radiation can interrupt the cell
cycle process, kill cells, or damage DNA in the cells. -
ANSWERHow does radiation kill cancer cells?
Neutropenia (risk for infections), anemia (causing fatigue), and
thrombocytopenia (risk for bleeding); anorexia, nausea, and
vomiting; alopecia, or hair loss. - ANSWERList some side effects
of chemotherapy drugs.
Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and
biotherapy - ANSWERList the 5 possible treatments for cancer:
False, they are elevated in benign conditions, most are not
elevated in the early stages of malignancy. - ANSWERTrue/False:
Blood tests for tumor markers are the single best screening tool
for cancer. Why or why not?
,2
tissue biopsy - ANSWERWhat is the most important procedure in
diagnosing the correct cancer and histology?
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. - ANSWERExplain
the TNM system:
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 -
ANSWER1. List two signs or symptoms a patient may present
with that might indicate a cancer diagnosis:
2. What are two systemic manifestations of cancer exhibited by
cancer patients?
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 - ANSWER1. 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?
true - ANSWERTrue/False:
,3
Cell proliferation is the process of increasing cell numbers by
mitotic cell division.
true - ANSWERTrue/False:
Cell differentiation is the process in which proliferating cells
become more specialized cell types.
stem cell - ANSWERThis type of cell remains incompletely
differentiated throughout life:
Epithelial
(Epithelial cells like the skin are constantly being replaced.) -
ANSWERWhich of the following are most likely to have arisen
from an adult stem cell?
Muscle Bone Epithelial Neural
A polyp is a growth that projects from a mucosal surface, such as
the intestine. A polyp can be benign or malignant -
ANSWERDefine polyp. Are they benign or malignant?
protooncogenes - ANSWERWhat are normal genes called that
become cancer-causing if mutated?
Tumor suppressor gene - ANSWERWhat type of gene is involved
in repairing damaged DNA?
Leiomyoma is a benign tumor. (Leiomyosarcoma is malignant)
Student can add any of the following: Benign tumors are well-
differentiated cells, resemble the cells of tissues of origin, and
have a slow, progressive rate of growth. They grow by expansion
and remain localized to their site of origin, not capable of
metastasizing. They develop a rim of connective tissue around
the tumor called a fibrous capsule, which aids in surgical removal.
Benign tumors are less of a threat unless they interfere with vital
functions Malignant neoplasms invade and destroy tissue. They
grow rapidly, spread to other parts of the body, and lack well-
defined margins. They can compress blood vessels and outgrow
their blood supply, causing ischemia and tissue injury. Surgery
, 4
can be more difficult if it has spread. - ANSWERA 40-year-old
woman has experienced heavy menstrual bleeding. She was told
she has a uterine tumor called a leiomyoma. She is worried she
has cancer. What do you tell her? Explain at least 2 differences
between a benign and malignant tumor.
(1) Metastasis- a cancer cell must break loose from the primary
tumor, invade the surrounding extracellular matrix, gain access to
a blood vessel, survive its passage in
the bloodstream, emerge at a favorable location, invade the
surrounding tissue, begin to grow, and establish a blood supply.
(2) Chest pain, shortness of breath, cough, bone pain. (3) Yearly
low-dose chest CT. - ANSWERA 62-year-old man with a 30-pack
year smoking history is diagnosed with small cell lung cancer with
metastasis to the bone. (1) Explain the process of how cancer
spreads metastatically. (2) What symptoms might he have
presented with? (3) Which screening test would he have benefited
from?
Grows by expansion
Growth may stop or regress - ANSWERBenign tumors have
which of the following characteristics? Select all that apply.
Undifferentiated cells Grows by expansion
Gains access to blood and lymph channels Growth may stop or
regress
Lack of cellular senescence Angiogenesis
Mutations in growth factor signaling pathways - ANSWERWhat
are molecular and cellular mechanisms in genes that increase
susceptibility to cancer? Select all that apply.
Lack of cellular senescence Angiogenesis
Ability to undergo apoptosis
Mutations in growth factor signaling pathways Intact DNA repair
genes
Heredity, hormonal factors, obesity, immunologic mechanisms,
PORTAGE LEARNING PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
NURS 231/BIOD 331 EXAM Questions and
Answers Latest Updates 2025 TOP RATED
Commented [p1]:
A+
Both methods are used to determine the course of the disease
and aid in selecting an appropriate treatment or management
plan. - ANSWERWhat is the purpose of grading and staging a
tumor?
Curative, control, and palliative - ANSWERWhat are the 3
possible goals of cancer treatment?
If the tumor is small with well-defined margins; to treat oncologic
emergencies; prophylactically - ANSWERWhen is surgery
appropriate in the treatment of cancer?
Radiation therapy uses high-energy particles or waves to destroy
or damage cancer cells. This leads to the creation of free radicals,
which damage cell structures. Radiation can interrupt the cell
cycle process, kill cells, or damage DNA in the cells. -
ANSWERHow does radiation kill cancer cells?
Neutropenia (risk for infections), anemia (causing fatigue), and
thrombocytopenia (risk for bleeding); anorexia, nausea, and
vomiting; alopecia, or hair loss. - ANSWERList some side effects
of chemotherapy drugs.
Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and
biotherapy - ANSWERList the 5 possible treatments for cancer:
False, they are elevated in benign conditions, most are not
elevated in the early stages of malignancy. - ANSWERTrue/False:
Blood tests for tumor markers are the single best screening tool
for cancer. Why or why not?
,2
tissue biopsy - ANSWERWhat is the most important procedure in
diagnosing the correct cancer and histology?
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. - ANSWERExplain
the TNM system:
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 -
ANSWER1. List two signs or symptoms a patient may present
with that might indicate a cancer diagnosis:
2. What are two systemic manifestations of cancer exhibited by
cancer patients?
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 - ANSWER1. 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?
true - ANSWERTrue/False:
,3
Cell proliferation is the process of increasing cell numbers by
mitotic cell division.
true - ANSWERTrue/False:
Cell differentiation is the process in which proliferating cells
become more specialized cell types.
stem cell - ANSWERThis type of cell remains incompletely
differentiated throughout life:
Epithelial
(Epithelial cells like the skin are constantly being replaced.) -
ANSWERWhich of the following are most likely to have arisen
from an adult stem cell?
Muscle Bone Epithelial Neural
A polyp is a growth that projects from a mucosal surface, such as
the intestine. A polyp can be benign or malignant -
ANSWERDefine polyp. Are they benign or malignant?
protooncogenes - ANSWERWhat are normal genes called that
become cancer-causing if mutated?
Tumor suppressor gene - ANSWERWhat type of gene is involved
in repairing damaged DNA?
Leiomyoma is a benign tumor. (Leiomyosarcoma is malignant)
Student can add any of the following: Benign tumors are well-
differentiated cells, resemble the cells of tissues of origin, and
have a slow, progressive rate of growth. They grow by expansion
and remain localized to their site of origin, not capable of
metastasizing. They develop a rim of connective tissue around
the tumor called a fibrous capsule, which aids in surgical removal.
Benign tumors are less of a threat unless they interfere with vital
functions Malignant neoplasms invade and destroy tissue. They
grow rapidly, spread to other parts of the body, and lack well-
defined margins. They can compress blood vessels and outgrow
their blood supply, causing ischemia and tissue injury. Surgery
, 4
can be more difficult if it has spread. - ANSWERA 40-year-old
woman has experienced heavy menstrual bleeding. She was told
she has a uterine tumor called a leiomyoma. She is worried she
has cancer. What do you tell her? Explain at least 2 differences
between a benign and malignant tumor.
(1) Metastasis- a cancer cell must break loose from the primary
tumor, invade the surrounding extracellular matrix, gain access to
a blood vessel, survive its passage in
the bloodstream, emerge at a favorable location, invade the
surrounding tissue, begin to grow, and establish a blood supply.
(2) Chest pain, shortness of breath, cough, bone pain. (3) Yearly
low-dose chest CT. - ANSWERA 62-year-old man with a 30-pack
year smoking history is diagnosed with small cell lung cancer with
metastasis to the bone. (1) Explain the process of how cancer
spreads metastatically. (2) What symptoms might he have
presented with? (3) Which screening test would he have benefited
from?
Grows by expansion
Growth may stop or regress - ANSWERBenign tumors have
which of the following characteristics? Select all that apply.
Undifferentiated cells Grows by expansion
Gains access to blood and lymph channels Growth may stop or
regress
Lack of cellular senescence Angiogenesis
Mutations in growth factor signaling pathways - ANSWERWhat
are molecular and cellular mechanisms in genes that increase
susceptibility to cancer? Select all that apply.
Lack of cellular senescence Angiogenesis
Ability to undergo apoptosis
Mutations in growth factor signaling pathways Intact DNA repair
genes
Heredity, hormonal factors, obesity, immunologic mechanisms,
