Oncology Exam Questions and All
Correct Answers 2025-2026 Updated.
Lab values you should know - Answer WBC- Chemo causes bone marrow suppression. (below
4500)
Platelets- Below 150,000
Hyperphosphatemia - 2.7-4.5
Hyperkalemia - 8.8-10.4
Hyperuricemia - men 3.5-8.0, women 2.8-6.8
Hypocalcemia - 3.5-5.2
foods that increase cancer risk - Answer Red meat, smoked meats/foods, charred meats,
processed, salty, fatty foods, spicy foods for prostate cancer. Artificial sweeteners.
After learning that he has a benign tumor in his abdomen, the patient is overheard telling his
wife that he has cancer. What should the nurse say to the patient and spouse?
1. "There is a growth in the abdomen but it is encapsulated and after being removed, will not
recur."
2. "This type of cancer is easily treated."
3. "This type of cancer will not spread to other tissues."
4. "Even though this growth has invaded other tissues, it can be contained." - Answer Correct
Answer: 1
A benign tumor is encapsulated, slow-growing, and once removed, will not recur. The patient
does not have cancer but rather a benign tumor. Even though benign tumors will not spread to
other tissues, the nurse should not refer to the growth as being cancer. The growth has not
invaded other tissues.
A patient tells the nurse that he has a benign tumor that has spread into his lymph glands. How
should the nurse respond to this patient?
1. "What did your doctor tell you about the tumor?"
2. "Benign tumors do not spread."
3. "That's a good thing that the tumor is benign."
4. "Since it is benign, are you going to have surgery to remove it?" - Answer Correct Answer: 1
The patient believes that the tumor is benign; however, benign tumors do not spread. These
,A patient with a history of cancer is surprised to learn that new cancer has been diagnosed in
another body part. What should the nurse realize this patient is experiencing?
1. metastasis
2. contact inhibition
3. destructive force from a benign neoplasm
4. a solid mass - Answer Correct Answer: 1
Malignant cells from the primary tumor may travel through the blood or lymph to invade other
tissues and organs of the body and form a secondary tumor called a metastasis. Malignant
neoplasms can recur after surgical removal of the primary and secondary tumors and after
other treatments. Contact inhibition is a characteristic of benign neoplasms. A destructive force
from a benign neoplasm is when the benign tumor impinges upon a body part causing damage.
Benign tumors are usually solid masses.
A college student is diagnosed with Epstein-Barr virus. The student has a history of smoking and
recreational cocaine use and works for a floor refinishing company part-time. Which factors
increase this student's risk for developing cancer?
Standard Text: Select all that apply.
1. drug use
2. occupation
3. smoking
4. viral infection
5. age - Answer Correct Answer: 1, 2, 3, 4
Some recreational drugs are also implicated as carcinogens. Immunosuppressant promoters
include heroin and cocaine. Examples of industrial and environmental carcinogens include
polycyclic hydrocarbons, found in soot; benzopyrene, found in cigarette smoke; and arsenic,
found in pesticides. Other industrial and environmental chemicals are considered promotional
agents. These include wood and leather dust, polymer esters used in plastics and paints, carbon
tetrachloride, asbestos, and phenol. Benzopyrene found in cigarette smoke contributes to the
development of cancer. Several viruses have been associated with the development of cancer.
These viruses include Epstein-Barr. The patient's young age is not a risk factor for the
development of cancer.
The nurse is preparing to provide care to a group of assigned patients. Which patient should the
nurse realize is at the highest risk for developing cancer?
1. an African American man
2. a Native American woman
, than in any other ethnic or racial group. Hispanics have higher rates of cancers associated with
infectious agents, such as uterine, cervix, liver, and stomach cancer.
The nurse is preparing to assess a patient who is newly diagnosed with cancer. What should the
nurse include in this assessment?
1. body image concerns
2. increased leukocytes
3. bone pain
4. increased hunger - Answer Correct Answer: 1
There are several physical and psychologic effects that occur in a patient diagnosed with cancer.
One of these effects is body image concerns. The patient's leukocytes are usually decreased, not
increased. Bone pain will depend upon the type of cancer. A change in appetite can occur,
although is it usually a loss of appetite.
A patient diagnosed with cancer tells the nurse that he does not want to experience anymore
pain. What should the nurse do to help this patient?
1. Discuss pain control options.
2. Explain that every patient with cancer has pain.
3. Review ways to reduce pain without the use of medication.
4. Instruct on why pain will continue throughout treatment. - Answer Correct Answer: 1
The pain associated with cancer is usually undertreated because of an inappropriate use of
opioids and barriers related to healthcare provider, patient, family, institution, and society.
Communication and knowledge deficit are the major barriers to effective pain management.
Because of this, the nurse should discuss pain control options with the patient. Not every
patient with cancer has pain. Reviewing ways to reduce pain without the use of medication may
or may not be appropriate for the patient. The nurse has no way of knowing whether the
patient's pain will continue throughout treatment.
A patient with neck cancer is scheduled for a diagnostic test to determine the success of
treatment. For what test should the nurse expect to prepare this patient?
1. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
2. computed tomography
3. x-ray imaging
4. ultrasonography - Answer Correct Answer: 1
MRI is the diagnostic tool of choice for both screening and follow-up of cranial and head and
neck tumors. Computed tomography is used in the screening for renal cell and most
Correct Answers 2025-2026 Updated.
Lab values you should know - Answer WBC- Chemo causes bone marrow suppression. (below
4500)
Platelets- Below 150,000
Hyperphosphatemia - 2.7-4.5
Hyperkalemia - 8.8-10.4
Hyperuricemia - men 3.5-8.0, women 2.8-6.8
Hypocalcemia - 3.5-5.2
foods that increase cancer risk - Answer Red meat, smoked meats/foods, charred meats,
processed, salty, fatty foods, spicy foods for prostate cancer. Artificial sweeteners.
After learning that he has a benign tumor in his abdomen, the patient is overheard telling his
wife that he has cancer. What should the nurse say to the patient and spouse?
1. "There is a growth in the abdomen but it is encapsulated and after being removed, will not
recur."
2. "This type of cancer is easily treated."
3. "This type of cancer will not spread to other tissues."
4. "Even though this growth has invaded other tissues, it can be contained." - Answer Correct
Answer: 1
A benign tumor is encapsulated, slow-growing, and once removed, will not recur. The patient
does not have cancer but rather a benign tumor. Even though benign tumors will not spread to
other tissues, the nurse should not refer to the growth as being cancer. The growth has not
invaded other tissues.
A patient tells the nurse that he has a benign tumor that has spread into his lymph glands. How
should the nurse respond to this patient?
1. "What did your doctor tell you about the tumor?"
2. "Benign tumors do not spread."
3. "That's a good thing that the tumor is benign."
4. "Since it is benign, are you going to have surgery to remove it?" - Answer Correct Answer: 1
The patient believes that the tumor is benign; however, benign tumors do not spread. These
,A patient with a history of cancer is surprised to learn that new cancer has been diagnosed in
another body part. What should the nurse realize this patient is experiencing?
1. metastasis
2. contact inhibition
3. destructive force from a benign neoplasm
4. a solid mass - Answer Correct Answer: 1
Malignant cells from the primary tumor may travel through the blood or lymph to invade other
tissues and organs of the body and form a secondary tumor called a metastasis. Malignant
neoplasms can recur after surgical removal of the primary and secondary tumors and after
other treatments. Contact inhibition is a characteristic of benign neoplasms. A destructive force
from a benign neoplasm is when the benign tumor impinges upon a body part causing damage.
Benign tumors are usually solid masses.
A college student is diagnosed with Epstein-Barr virus. The student has a history of smoking and
recreational cocaine use and works for a floor refinishing company part-time. Which factors
increase this student's risk for developing cancer?
Standard Text: Select all that apply.
1. drug use
2. occupation
3. smoking
4. viral infection
5. age - Answer Correct Answer: 1, 2, 3, 4
Some recreational drugs are also implicated as carcinogens. Immunosuppressant promoters
include heroin and cocaine. Examples of industrial and environmental carcinogens include
polycyclic hydrocarbons, found in soot; benzopyrene, found in cigarette smoke; and arsenic,
found in pesticides. Other industrial and environmental chemicals are considered promotional
agents. These include wood and leather dust, polymer esters used in plastics and paints, carbon
tetrachloride, asbestos, and phenol. Benzopyrene found in cigarette smoke contributes to the
development of cancer. Several viruses have been associated with the development of cancer.
These viruses include Epstein-Barr. The patient's young age is not a risk factor for the
development of cancer.
The nurse is preparing to provide care to a group of assigned patients. Which patient should the
nurse realize is at the highest risk for developing cancer?
1. an African American man
2. a Native American woman
, than in any other ethnic or racial group. Hispanics have higher rates of cancers associated with
infectious agents, such as uterine, cervix, liver, and stomach cancer.
The nurse is preparing to assess a patient who is newly diagnosed with cancer. What should the
nurse include in this assessment?
1. body image concerns
2. increased leukocytes
3. bone pain
4. increased hunger - Answer Correct Answer: 1
There are several physical and psychologic effects that occur in a patient diagnosed with cancer.
One of these effects is body image concerns. The patient's leukocytes are usually decreased, not
increased. Bone pain will depend upon the type of cancer. A change in appetite can occur,
although is it usually a loss of appetite.
A patient diagnosed with cancer tells the nurse that he does not want to experience anymore
pain. What should the nurse do to help this patient?
1. Discuss pain control options.
2. Explain that every patient with cancer has pain.
3. Review ways to reduce pain without the use of medication.
4. Instruct on why pain will continue throughout treatment. - Answer Correct Answer: 1
The pain associated with cancer is usually undertreated because of an inappropriate use of
opioids and barriers related to healthcare provider, patient, family, institution, and society.
Communication and knowledge deficit are the major barriers to effective pain management.
Because of this, the nurse should discuss pain control options with the patient. Not every
patient with cancer has pain. Reviewing ways to reduce pain without the use of medication may
or may not be appropriate for the patient. The nurse has no way of knowing whether the
patient's pain will continue throughout treatment.
A patient with neck cancer is scheduled for a diagnostic test to determine the success of
treatment. For what test should the nurse expect to prepare this patient?
1. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
2. computed tomography
3. x-ray imaging
4. ultrasonography - Answer Correct Answer: 1
MRI is the diagnostic tool of choice for both screening and follow-up of cranial and head and
neck tumors. Computed tomography is used in the screening for renal cell and most
