QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
PACKAGE
●● Cancer treatment options focus on:
Answer: removing or destroying cancer cells and preventing the
continued abnormal cell growth and differentiation
●● Cancer treatment can be:
Answer: curative or palliative
●● Client factors that guide cancer treatment plan
Answer: age, childbearing desire, pregnancy, current state of health,
expected lifespan
●● Adjuvant treatment
Answer: What is given in addition to the primary treatment standard
●● Adjuvant treatment can include
Answer: Hormone, radiation, and targeted therapies
Immunotherapy
Chemotherapy
,●● Nursing care for clients who have cancer should include:
Answer: Collaboration with supportive therapies and services
Counseling
Transfer of care to another provider at discharge
●● Cancer treatment includes:
Answer: Manipulation or removal of the tumor
●● Tumor reduction
Answer: Can be done through topical procedures (cryosurgery, laser
therapy, abiation) or by destruction of the main arteries that provide
blood flow to the tumor (artery embolization)
●● Tumor excision
Answer: Can be open or endoscopic (curettage and electrodissection for
skin cancer)
●● How is tumor excision performed?
Answer: The tumor and tissue immediately surrounding it (tumor
margin) are removed. The goal is that all of the outermost tissue that was
removed does not contain cancer cells ( a negative margin).
Surgery can be done for excision, biopsy (diagnosis and staging), or
relief (palliation) based on findings.
,Lymph node dissection or sentinel lymph node biopsy is done to
determine if the cancer has spread or there is added risk of spread.
More extensive surgeries (tumors involving multiple organs or
structures, lymph node involvement, deep lesions) increase the risk of
complications and typically require longer recovery periods. Intensive
care can be required.
●● Nursing actions for tumor excision
Answer: Obtain a signed informed consent form
Prepare the client for procedures (NPO status, withholding or
administering medications as prescribed, monitoring laboratory
findings).
Provide postoperative care as indicated by tumor location and procedure
type.
Prevent general postoperative complications (infection, fluid or
electrolyte imbalance, hemorrhage, thromboembolism, inadequate
oxygenation, shock).
Prevent and treat pain as prescribed using pharmacological and
nonpharmacological measures.
Educate the client on care for drains, wounds, and implanted devices.
Teach the client to monitor for complications after discharge.
●● Chemotherapy
Answer: Involves administration of systemic or local cytotoxic
medications that damage a cell's DNA or destroy rapidly dividing cells.
, ●● How are chemotherapeutic agents selected?
Answer: In relation to their effect on various stages of cell division
Combinations of anticancer medications are used to enhance destruction
of cancer cells
●● Adverse effects of cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs
Answer: Related to the unintentional harm done to normal rapidly
proliferating cells, such as those found in the mucous membranes of the
gastrointestinal (GI) tract, hair follicles, and bone marrow.
●● Why might agents that protect healthy cells be given before or with
chemotherapy?
Answer: To decrease the effect on normal tissues
●● Where can chemotherapy be administered?
Answer: Health care setting, provider's office, clinic, or home
●● How are most chemotherapy medications absorbed?
Answer: Through the skin and mucous membranes
●● What must people preparing, giving, or disposing of chemo
medications wear?