ONS Fundamentals Study Guide | Latest
2025/2026 Exam Prep & Practice Questions
when chemo is used before primary treatment (surgery) to reduce the size of a tumor -
correct answerneoadjuvant therapy
neoadjuvant therapy is common for what 2 kind of cancers? - correct answercolon and
breast
when chemo is used after primary (surgery, radiation) - correct answeradjuvant
induction - correct answerstart of chemo
consolidation - correct answertesting labs and such after chemo
myeloblation - correct answerdestroying the bone marrow in order to a transplant for
leukemias
what do alkylayting agents do? - correct answerdirectly damage the DNA to stop
replication
Alkylating agents major side effects - correct answernaseau and vomititng,
myelosupression, neurotoxicity
alkylating ages examples - correct answercisplatin, carboplatin, busulfan,
cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, melphalan, oxaliplatin
cyclophosphamide - correct answerused for leukemias, lymphomas, myeloma, breast
and ovarian cancer, neuroblastoma, and retinoblastoma. HYDRATE before and after
(can cause acute hemmoragic cystitis). can cause liver and renal damage. can cause
extreme nausea, and cardiac issues. contraindicated if extreme marrow suppression.
cisplatin - correct answerused for bladder, testes, ovaries, endometrial cancer, lung
cancer, head and neck and squamous cell. contraindicated for bad kidneys, hearing
loss, neuropathy, lactation, and myelosupresion. vesicant. can cause neuropathy and
ototoxicmy, extreme nausea, delayed nausea. need fluids!
carboplatin - correct answerovaries, head and neck, lung, cervial, metastatic breast,
testicular, lymphoma, relapse leukemia. contraindicated with marrow suppression,
lactation, and bleeding tendencies. anaphylactic reactions can occur!
, Antimetabolites - correct answerinterfere with DNA. methotrexate and flourouracil. can
cause myelosupresion, nausea and vomiting, mucositis, and gastrointestinal toxicity.
methotrexate - correct answeruse aggressive hydration, can cause renal and liver
impairment. no pregnant or breast-feeding. hydrate
5-flourouracil - correct answerno people with poor nutrition, myelosupression, or serious
infection. can cause EKG changes, angina, hypotension, myocardial ischemia. effects
normally within first 2 days. avoid excessive sun exposure. leukovorin can help
enhance. give ice chips to hold in mouth 10-15 minutes before and after transfusion to
help prevent mouth soars. assess mouth!!
antitumor antibiotic - correct answeralter DNA. doxorubicin. cardiac toxicity,
myelosupression, vesicant
doxorubacin - correct answerused for tumors and blood cancers. vesicant. go slow. be
aware of patients heart. cardiotoxic.
Nitrosoureas - correct answerinhibit DNA and RNA synthesis. can cross blood brain
barrier! can cause secondary malignancies. pulmonary fibrosis, anorexia, alopecia.
example: carmustine
carmustine - correct answerpulmonary toxic, be aware.
irinotecan - correct answernot recommended while on radiation. caution against elderly
due to diarrhea.
Plant Alkaloids - correct answervincristine, etoposide, paclitaxel. neurotoxicity,
hypersensativity
paclitaxel - correct answershould not be used with patients with neutrophils below 1500.
can cause anaphylaxis. premeditate with dex, benadryl, and famatodine.
etoposide - correct answerhold for less than 500 neutrophils and platelets less than
50,000. go slow so no hypotension or reaction
vincristine - correct answervesicant. do not give intrathecally, FATAL. only IV. can
cause paralytic illeus, recommend stool softener. peripheral neuropathy, and possibly
seizure
hydroxurea - correct answeroral agent. be careful with gout. neurotoxic: confusion,
seizures, dizziness, headaches.
hormone therapy - correct answeruse din cancers that are spurred on by hormones.
also used used for chemo side effects (corticosteroids) like inflammation, nausea,
reactions, decreased appetite.
2025/2026 Exam Prep & Practice Questions
when chemo is used before primary treatment (surgery) to reduce the size of a tumor -
correct answerneoadjuvant therapy
neoadjuvant therapy is common for what 2 kind of cancers? - correct answercolon and
breast
when chemo is used after primary (surgery, radiation) - correct answeradjuvant
induction - correct answerstart of chemo
consolidation - correct answertesting labs and such after chemo
myeloblation - correct answerdestroying the bone marrow in order to a transplant for
leukemias
what do alkylayting agents do? - correct answerdirectly damage the DNA to stop
replication
Alkylating agents major side effects - correct answernaseau and vomititng,
myelosupression, neurotoxicity
alkylating ages examples - correct answercisplatin, carboplatin, busulfan,
cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, melphalan, oxaliplatin
cyclophosphamide - correct answerused for leukemias, lymphomas, myeloma, breast
and ovarian cancer, neuroblastoma, and retinoblastoma. HYDRATE before and after
(can cause acute hemmoragic cystitis). can cause liver and renal damage. can cause
extreme nausea, and cardiac issues. contraindicated if extreme marrow suppression.
cisplatin - correct answerused for bladder, testes, ovaries, endometrial cancer, lung
cancer, head and neck and squamous cell. contraindicated for bad kidneys, hearing
loss, neuropathy, lactation, and myelosupresion. vesicant. can cause neuropathy and
ototoxicmy, extreme nausea, delayed nausea. need fluids!
carboplatin - correct answerovaries, head and neck, lung, cervial, metastatic breast,
testicular, lymphoma, relapse leukemia. contraindicated with marrow suppression,
lactation, and bleeding tendencies. anaphylactic reactions can occur!
, Antimetabolites - correct answerinterfere with DNA. methotrexate and flourouracil. can
cause myelosupresion, nausea and vomiting, mucositis, and gastrointestinal toxicity.
methotrexate - correct answeruse aggressive hydration, can cause renal and liver
impairment. no pregnant or breast-feeding. hydrate
5-flourouracil - correct answerno people with poor nutrition, myelosupression, or serious
infection. can cause EKG changes, angina, hypotension, myocardial ischemia. effects
normally within first 2 days. avoid excessive sun exposure. leukovorin can help
enhance. give ice chips to hold in mouth 10-15 minutes before and after transfusion to
help prevent mouth soars. assess mouth!!
antitumor antibiotic - correct answeralter DNA. doxorubicin. cardiac toxicity,
myelosupression, vesicant
doxorubacin - correct answerused for tumors and blood cancers. vesicant. go slow. be
aware of patients heart. cardiotoxic.
Nitrosoureas - correct answerinhibit DNA and RNA synthesis. can cross blood brain
barrier! can cause secondary malignancies. pulmonary fibrosis, anorexia, alopecia.
example: carmustine
carmustine - correct answerpulmonary toxic, be aware.
irinotecan - correct answernot recommended while on radiation. caution against elderly
due to diarrhea.
Plant Alkaloids - correct answervincristine, etoposide, paclitaxel. neurotoxicity,
hypersensativity
paclitaxel - correct answershould not be used with patients with neutrophils below 1500.
can cause anaphylaxis. premeditate with dex, benadryl, and famatodine.
etoposide - correct answerhold for less than 500 neutrophils and platelets less than
50,000. go slow so no hypotension or reaction
vincristine - correct answervesicant. do not give intrathecally, FATAL. only IV. can
cause paralytic illeus, recommend stool softener. peripheral neuropathy, and possibly
seizure
hydroxurea - correct answeroral agent. be careful with gout. neurotoxic: confusion,
seizures, dizziness, headaches.
hormone therapy - correct answeruse din cancers that are spurred on by hormones.
also used used for chemo side effects (corticosteroids) like inflammation, nausea,
reactions, decreased appetite.
