NURS 231 ACTUAL EXAM 2026 COMPLETE
QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED VERIFIED
ANSWERS | ALREADY GRADED A+
Give an example of a hereditary cancer: - ANSWER BRCA1,2 causes breast and
ovarian cancer; retinoblastoma; familial adenomatous polyposis causes colon
cancer.
What organs do hormones and the development of cancer target? - ANSWER
Breast, ovary, endometrium, prostate
List some lifestyle factors that contribute to the development of cancer? -
ANSWER Smoking, alcohol, chewing tobacco, high fat/low fiber diet, high intake
smoked meats, sun exposure, obesity
What are the 4 oncogenic viruses that can induce cancer? - ANSWER Human
papillomavirus (HPV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and
human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8), which causes Kaposi sarcoma in people with
AIDS.
List some common symptoms people with cancer have: - ANSWER Bleeding,
pleural/peritoneal fluid, anorexia, weight loss, wasting of body fat and muscle
tissue, weakness, fatigue, sleep disturbances, anemia.
Why is anemia common in people with cancer? - ANSWER It could be because
of blood loss, hemolysis, impaired red blood cell production, or treatment effects.
, What are paraneoplastic syndromes? Give an example. - ANSWER Cancer can
also produce symptoms in sites not directly affected by the disease. These
manifestations are termed paraneoplastic syndromes. Examples are syndrome of
inappropriate ADH secretion, Cushing syndrome due to ectopic ACTH production,
and hypercalcemia.
What body parts do we screen through observation? Palpation? Laboratory tests
and procedures? - ANSWER Observation (skin, mouth, external genitalia),
palpation (breast, thyroid, rectum and anus, prostate, lymph nodes), and laboratory
tests and procedures (Pap smear, colonoscopy, mammography)
What are tumor markers helpful for? - ANSWER Establishing prognosis,
monitoring treatment, and detecting recurrent disease.
What is the most important procedure in diagnosing the correct cancer and
histology? - ANSWER Tissue biopsy
Define grading and staging and be familiar with table 2.5. - ANSWER Grading is
the histologic or cellular characteristics of the tumor. Staging is the clinical spread
of the disease.
What is the purpose of grading and staging a tumor? - ANSWER Both methods
are used to determine the course of the disease and aid in selecting an appropriate
treatment or management plan.
What are the 3 possible goals of cancer treatment? - ANSWER Curative, control,
and palliative
, When is surgery appropriate in the treatment of cancer? - ANSWER If the tumor
is small with well-defined margins; to treat oncologic emergencies;
prophylactically
How does radiation kill cancer cells? - ANSWER 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.
List some side effects of chemotherapy drugs. - ANSWER Neutropenia (risk for
infections), anemia (causing fatigue), and thrombocytopenia (risk for bleeding);
anorexia, nausea, and vomiting; alopecia, or hair loss.
List the 5 possible treatments for cancer: - ANSWER Surgery, radiation,
chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and biotherapy
Define neoplasia and neoplasm: - ANSWER Neoplasia is a disorder of altered cell
differentiation and growth. Neoplasm is the "new growth."
Define proliferation and differentiation: - ANSWER Proliferation, a process of
cell division, is an adaptive process for new cell growth to replace old cells or
when additional cells are needed. Differentiation is the process in which cells
become more specialized with each mitotic division.
What are the 3 main groups of cells that proliferate? - ANSWER (1) well-
differentiated neurons and cells of skeletal and cardiac muscles that rarely divide
and reproduce; (2) progenitor or parent cells that continue to divide and reproduce,
like blood, skin, and liver cells; (3) undifferentiated stem cells that can enter the
cell cycle and produce large number of progenitor cells if needed.
, What are progenitor cells? - ANSWER The more specialized cells are unable to
divide, so these cell populations rely on progenitor or parent cells of the same
lineage that have not yet differentiated to the extent that they have lost their ability
to divide. They have enough differentiation so the daughter cells are limited to the
same cell line, but not quite differentiated enough to prohibit active proliferation.
What are the benefits of the stem cell? - ANSWER Stem cells remain dormant
until they are needed. When needed, they can divide, produce other stem cells, and
carry out the functions of the differentiated cell. Two important properties that
stem cells possess are self-renewal and potency. Self-renewal means the stem cell
can undergo numerous mitotic divisions while maintaining an undifferentiated
state. Potency describes the differentiation potential of stem cells.
What is a polyp? - ANSWERA polyp is a growth that projects from a mucosal
surface, such as the intestine. A polyp can be benign or malignant.
Explain metastasis and how it occurs: - ANSWERThe multi-step process of
metastasis occurs as follows: 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.
What are the two broad categories of malignant neoplasms? - ANSWERSolid
tumors and hematologic cancers
Explain what carcinoma in situ is? - ANSWERCarcinoma in situ is a localized
preinvasive lesion. These can typically be surgically removed or treated, and
recurrence is less likely.
QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED VERIFIED
ANSWERS | ALREADY GRADED A+
Give an example of a hereditary cancer: - ANSWER BRCA1,2 causes breast and
ovarian cancer; retinoblastoma; familial adenomatous polyposis causes colon
cancer.
What organs do hormones and the development of cancer target? - ANSWER
Breast, ovary, endometrium, prostate
List some lifestyle factors that contribute to the development of cancer? -
ANSWER Smoking, alcohol, chewing tobacco, high fat/low fiber diet, high intake
smoked meats, sun exposure, obesity
What are the 4 oncogenic viruses that can induce cancer? - ANSWER Human
papillomavirus (HPV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and
human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8), which causes Kaposi sarcoma in people with
AIDS.
List some common symptoms people with cancer have: - ANSWER Bleeding,
pleural/peritoneal fluid, anorexia, weight loss, wasting of body fat and muscle
tissue, weakness, fatigue, sleep disturbances, anemia.
Why is anemia common in people with cancer? - ANSWER It could be because
of blood loss, hemolysis, impaired red blood cell production, or treatment effects.
, What are paraneoplastic syndromes? Give an example. - ANSWER Cancer can
also produce symptoms in sites not directly affected by the disease. These
manifestations are termed paraneoplastic syndromes. Examples are syndrome of
inappropriate ADH secretion, Cushing syndrome due to ectopic ACTH production,
and hypercalcemia.
What body parts do we screen through observation? Palpation? Laboratory tests
and procedures? - ANSWER Observation (skin, mouth, external genitalia),
palpation (breast, thyroid, rectum and anus, prostate, lymph nodes), and laboratory
tests and procedures (Pap smear, colonoscopy, mammography)
What are tumor markers helpful for? - ANSWER Establishing prognosis,
monitoring treatment, and detecting recurrent disease.
What is the most important procedure in diagnosing the correct cancer and
histology? - ANSWER Tissue biopsy
Define grading and staging and be familiar with table 2.5. - ANSWER Grading is
the histologic or cellular characteristics of the tumor. Staging is the clinical spread
of the disease.
What is the purpose of grading and staging a tumor? - ANSWER Both methods
are used to determine the course of the disease and aid in selecting an appropriate
treatment or management plan.
What are the 3 possible goals of cancer treatment? - ANSWER Curative, control,
and palliative
, When is surgery appropriate in the treatment of cancer? - ANSWER If the tumor
is small with well-defined margins; to treat oncologic emergencies;
prophylactically
How does radiation kill cancer cells? - ANSWER 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.
List some side effects of chemotherapy drugs. - ANSWER Neutropenia (risk for
infections), anemia (causing fatigue), and thrombocytopenia (risk for bleeding);
anorexia, nausea, and vomiting; alopecia, or hair loss.
List the 5 possible treatments for cancer: - ANSWER Surgery, radiation,
chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and biotherapy
Define neoplasia and neoplasm: - ANSWER Neoplasia is a disorder of altered cell
differentiation and growth. Neoplasm is the "new growth."
Define proliferation and differentiation: - ANSWER Proliferation, a process of
cell division, is an adaptive process for new cell growth to replace old cells or
when additional cells are needed. Differentiation is the process in which cells
become more specialized with each mitotic division.
What are the 3 main groups of cells that proliferate? - ANSWER (1) well-
differentiated neurons and cells of skeletal and cardiac muscles that rarely divide
and reproduce; (2) progenitor or parent cells that continue to divide and reproduce,
like blood, skin, and liver cells; (3) undifferentiated stem cells that can enter the
cell cycle and produce large number of progenitor cells if needed.
, What are progenitor cells? - ANSWER The more specialized cells are unable to
divide, so these cell populations rely on progenitor or parent cells of the same
lineage that have not yet differentiated to the extent that they have lost their ability
to divide. They have enough differentiation so the daughter cells are limited to the
same cell line, but not quite differentiated enough to prohibit active proliferation.
What are the benefits of the stem cell? - ANSWER Stem cells remain dormant
until they are needed. When needed, they can divide, produce other stem cells, and
carry out the functions of the differentiated cell. Two important properties that
stem cells possess are self-renewal and potency. Self-renewal means the stem cell
can undergo numerous mitotic divisions while maintaining an undifferentiated
state. Potency describes the differentiation potential of stem cells.
What is a polyp? - ANSWERA polyp is a growth that projects from a mucosal
surface, such as the intestine. A polyp can be benign or malignant.
Explain metastasis and how it occurs: - ANSWERThe multi-step process of
metastasis occurs as follows: 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.
What are the two broad categories of malignant neoplasms? - ANSWERSolid
tumors and hematologic cancers
Explain what carcinoma in situ is? - ANSWERCarcinoma in situ is a localized
preinvasive lesion. These can typically be surgically removed or treated, and
recurrence is less likely.
