ONS ONCC Chemo Renewal
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2025/2026
EXAM
1. What is the main benefit of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for a breast cancer
patient?
A) It increases overall survival compared to adjuvant therapy
B) It decreases the need for radiation therapy
C) It changes the timing of treatment and can change surgical options if the tumor
is shrunk enough
D) It eliminates the need for any surgical intervention
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Neoadjuvant therapy does not increase survival when compared to
adjuvant therapy. It only changes the timing of treatment and can change surgical
options if the tumor is shrunk enough. If this occurs, the patient may only require a
lumpectomy plus radiation therapy instead of needing a mastectomy.
2. The NCCN Older Adult Oncology Guidelines indicate that more than 60%
of cancers in the United States occur in people age ______ and older.
A) 50
B) 55
,C) 60
D) 65
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Currently, more than 60% of cancers in the United States occur in
people age 65 and older, and as the oncology population ages, nearly half (46%) of
cancer survivors are 70 years of age or older.
3. Due to Mrs. Turner's age and comorbidities, her oncologist performs a
comprehensive geriatric assessment. You know that this assessment covers all
but which of the following?
A) Functional status and socioeconomic issues
B) Cognitive function and nutritional status
C) Tumor genomic profiling
D) Polypharmacy and medication review
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is a multidisciplinary
evaluation that assesses functional status, socioeconomic issues, psychosocial
distress, comorbidities, cognitive function, nutritional status, polypharmacy, and
medication review. Tumor genomic profiling is not part of the CGA.
4. What is your best explanation for why Mrs. Turner was given a port to
receive her chemotherapy?
,A) She is older in age, requiring a central line
B) All IV chemotherapy requires a port
C) Two of the agents (docetaxel and carboplatin) are irritants that can cause
significant reaction if they extravasate
D) Vesicants in her regimen make a port mandatory
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Docetaxel and carboplatin are categorized as irritants. Docetaxel can
cause a significant reaction if it extravasates, leading to edema, erythema,
occasional pain, and blister formation. This is the most likely reason for port
placement, not age alone.
5. _____________ can cause inflammation, pain, and burning but rarely cause
tissue necrosis comparable to a vesicant.
A) Vesicants
B) Irritants
C) DNA-binding agents
D) Non-DNA-binding agents
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Irritants can cause inflammation, pain, and burning but rarely cause
tissue necrosis comparable to a vesicant (unless a large amount or a very high
concentration of the irritant is extravasated).
, 6. _____________ can cause blistering and significant pain and tissue damage
and destruction, leading to tissue death.
A) Irritants
B) Vesicants
C) Antiemetics
D) Growth factors
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Vesicants can cause blistering and significant pain, tissue damage, and
destruction, leading to tissue death. Examples include anthracyclines and vinca
alkaloids.
7. A further classification of an antineoplastic agent's potential to cause
damage is whether its mechanism of action includes ______________.
A) Protein binding
B) Cell cycle specificity
C) DNA binding
D) Receptor antagonism
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Non-DNA-binding solutions remain in the local area of the
extravasation, which improves the possibility of drug deactivation. DNA-binding
agents attach to DNA nucleic acids, causing the agent to be ingested cellularly,
leading to progressive tissue destruction.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2025/2026
EXAM
1. What is the main benefit of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for a breast cancer
patient?
A) It increases overall survival compared to adjuvant therapy
B) It decreases the need for radiation therapy
C) It changes the timing of treatment and can change surgical options if the tumor
is shrunk enough
D) It eliminates the need for any surgical intervention
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Neoadjuvant therapy does not increase survival when compared to
adjuvant therapy. It only changes the timing of treatment and can change surgical
options if the tumor is shrunk enough. If this occurs, the patient may only require a
lumpectomy plus radiation therapy instead of needing a mastectomy.
2. The NCCN Older Adult Oncology Guidelines indicate that more than 60%
of cancers in the United States occur in people age ______ and older.
A) 50
B) 55
,C) 60
D) 65
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Currently, more than 60% of cancers in the United States occur in
people age 65 and older, and as the oncology population ages, nearly half (46%) of
cancer survivors are 70 years of age or older.
3. Due to Mrs. Turner's age and comorbidities, her oncologist performs a
comprehensive geriatric assessment. You know that this assessment covers all
but which of the following?
A) Functional status and socioeconomic issues
B) Cognitive function and nutritional status
C) Tumor genomic profiling
D) Polypharmacy and medication review
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is a multidisciplinary
evaluation that assesses functional status, socioeconomic issues, psychosocial
distress, comorbidities, cognitive function, nutritional status, polypharmacy, and
medication review. Tumor genomic profiling is not part of the CGA.
4. What is your best explanation for why Mrs. Turner was given a port to
receive her chemotherapy?
,A) She is older in age, requiring a central line
B) All IV chemotherapy requires a port
C) Two of the agents (docetaxel and carboplatin) are irritants that can cause
significant reaction if they extravasate
D) Vesicants in her regimen make a port mandatory
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Docetaxel and carboplatin are categorized as irritants. Docetaxel can
cause a significant reaction if it extravasates, leading to edema, erythema,
occasional pain, and blister formation. This is the most likely reason for port
placement, not age alone.
5. _____________ can cause inflammation, pain, and burning but rarely cause
tissue necrosis comparable to a vesicant.
A) Vesicants
B) Irritants
C) DNA-binding agents
D) Non-DNA-binding agents
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Irritants can cause inflammation, pain, and burning but rarely cause
tissue necrosis comparable to a vesicant (unless a large amount or a very high
concentration of the irritant is extravasated).
, 6. _____________ can cause blistering and significant pain and tissue damage
and destruction, leading to tissue death.
A) Irritants
B) Vesicants
C) Antiemetics
D) Growth factors
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Vesicants can cause blistering and significant pain, tissue damage, and
destruction, leading to tissue death. Examples include anthracyclines and vinca
alkaloids.
7. A further classification of an antineoplastic agent's potential to cause
damage is whether its mechanism of action includes ______________.
A) Protein binding
B) Cell cycle specificity
C) DNA binding
D) Receptor antagonism
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Non-DNA-binding solutions remain in the local area of the
extravasation, which improves the possibility of drug deactivation. DNA-binding
agents attach to DNA nucleic acids, causing the agent to be ingested cellularly,
leading to progressive tissue destruction.
