Pathophysiology 2nd Half of Term
Practice Test Questions and Answers
"Why is chronic irritation a risk factor for cancer?" asks Mr. Murtha, who is reluctant to
give up his cigarettes. "I switched to a filter to reduce the cancer-causing chemicals, but
the doctor says that the inflammation still makes a risk." Choose the information that
you should include in your answer. This question may have more than one correct
answer. Choose all that apply. Correct answer- b) Inflammatory chemicals can damage
DNA in cells, causing mutations that lead to cancer.
c) During inflammation, cells divide more frequently to replace damaged tissue, which
can lead to mutations that lead to cancer.
e) Growth factors released during inflammation can cause excessive cell division,
increasing the risk of mutations that lead to cancer.
"Tomorrow they are planning to grade my tumor," says Mr. Donner. "What information
will that provide? I do not want any unnecessary procedures!" Choose the words that
best complete this response: "Tumor grading is important because it gives information
about the: Correct answer- degree of deviation from normal in the tumor cells.
"I thought cancer was carcinoma, because that is what my cousin has," says Mrs.
Rouch. "But my doctor says I have cancer and he calls it sarcoma. Do both of these
words mean cancer?" Choose the best words to complete this response: "Yes, both
carcinoma and sarcoma mean cancer, but they refer to different types of cancer.
Sarcomas are cancers that arise from: Correct answer- connective tissue such as bone
or cartilage
Mr. Nakata has leukopenia from his cancer chemotherapy treatment. You should teach
him how to protect himself from which of the following? Correct answer- Infection
You are working in a hospital oncology unit with patients who have advanced cancer. In
addition to assessing for the general signs and symptoms that are caused by most
advanced cancers and for the effects of metastases, what specific assessment should
you perform that pertains to the primary cancer site for each of these individuals? Each
question has one correct answer. Correct answer-
Cough, dyspnea, decreased PaO2, activity intolerance Correct answer- Mrs. Wu, who
has bronchogenic carcinoma
, Urinary urgency, hesitancy, retention Correct answer- Mr. Jamal, who has prostatic
adenocarcinoma
Peripheral edema, ascites, increased bilirubin Correct answer- Mr. Warger, who has
hepatocellular carcinoma
Hypercalcemia, localized pain Correct answer- Mr. Nguyen, who has an osteosarcoma
In morning report you learn that Mrs. Kant has developed alopecia from her
chemotherapy treatment. What should you expect to find in your assessment? Correct
answer- Hair loss
Mrs. Graber is newly diagnosed with cervical carcinoma in situ. "Tell me again what that
means," she says. "I was so upset at first that I did not hear anything except cervical
cancer. Now I want to know what in situ means." Choose the best words to complete
this response: "Carcinoma in situ means that the cancer cells: Correct answer- have not
invaded the surrounding tissue."
Mrs. Pierce has a strong family history of breast cancer. She is thinking about
undergoing genetic testing. "Let me see if I have this right," she says. "If I have the
family mutation that causes the proto-oncogenes to get abnormal and turn on too much,
then I am at very high risk for developing cancer. Is that right?" Choose the best
response. Correct answer- Yes, you are correct.
Mr. Tabor has the wasting syndrome associated with cancer and cancer treatment.
What term should you use to describe his condition at change-of-shift report? Correct
answer- Cachexia
Miss Murcheson has a malignant tumor. She says, "The doctor said my tumor is
growing really quickly. Why does it grow so fast?" Which of the following principles is
the basis for the response that you should provide her in layperson terms? Correct
answer- Malignant cells lack contact inhibition.
A woman who is infected with which of the following viruses should undergo periodic
screening for cervical cancer? Correct answer- Human papillomavirus
Mr. Jenner has stage IV colon cancer and he is receiving chemotherapy today. "Please
tell me again what stage IV means," he says. Choose the best response. Correct
answer- Your cancer has spread to distant lymph nodes and is growing in other
locations that are far from where it began.
Which of the following risk factors should you teach people to avoid in order to reduce
their risk of lung, bladder, pancreatic, renal, laryngeal, pharyngeal, and esophageal
cancer? Correct answer- Tobacco use
Practice Test Questions and Answers
"Why is chronic irritation a risk factor for cancer?" asks Mr. Murtha, who is reluctant to
give up his cigarettes. "I switched to a filter to reduce the cancer-causing chemicals, but
the doctor says that the inflammation still makes a risk." Choose the information that
you should include in your answer. This question may have more than one correct
answer. Choose all that apply. Correct answer- b) Inflammatory chemicals can damage
DNA in cells, causing mutations that lead to cancer.
c) During inflammation, cells divide more frequently to replace damaged tissue, which
can lead to mutations that lead to cancer.
e) Growth factors released during inflammation can cause excessive cell division,
increasing the risk of mutations that lead to cancer.
"Tomorrow they are planning to grade my tumor," says Mr. Donner. "What information
will that provide? I do not want any unnecessary procedures!" Choose the words that
best complete this response: "Tumor grading is important because it gives information
about the: Correct answer- degree of deviation from normal in the tumor cells.
"I thought cancer was carcinoma, because that is what my cousin has," says Mrs.
Rouch. "But my doctor says I have cancer and he calls it sarcoma. Do both of these
words mean cancer?" Choose the best words to complete this response: "Yes, both
carcinoma and sarcoma mean cancer, but they refer to different types of cancer.
Sarcomas are cancers that arise from: Correct answer- connective tissue such as bone
or cartilage
Mr. Nakata has leukopenia from his cancer chemotherapy treatment. You should teach
him how to protect himself from which of the following? Correct answer- Infection
You are working in a hospital oncology unit with patients who have advanced cancer. In
addition to assessing for the general signs and symptoms that are caused by most
advanced cancers and for the effects of metastases, what specific assessment should
you perform that pertains to the primary cancer site for each of these individuals? Each
question has one correct answer. Correct answer-
Cough, dyspnea, decreased PaO2, activity intolerance Correct answer- Mrs. Wu, who
has bronchogenic carcinoma
, Urinary urgency, hesitancy, retention Correct answer- Mr. Jamal, who has prostatic
adenocarcinoma
Peripheral edema, ascites, increased bilirubin Correct answer- Mr. Warger, who has
hepatocellular carcinoma
Hypercalcemia, localized pain Correct answer- Mr. Nguyen, who has an osteosarcoma
In morning report you learn that Mrs. Kant has developed alopecia from her
chemotherapy treatment. What should you expect to find in your assessment? Correct
answer- Hair loss
Mrs. Graber is newly diagnosed with cervical carcinoma in situ. "Tell me again what that
means," she says. "I was so upset at first that I did not hear anything except cervical
cancer. Now I want to know what in situ means." Choose the best words to complete
this response: "Carcinoma in situ means that the cancer cells: Correct answer- have not
invaded the surrounding tissue."
Mrs. Pierce has a strong family history of breast cancer. She is thinking about
undergoing genetic testing. "Let me see if I have this right," she says. "If I have the
family mutation that causes the proto-oncogenes to get abnormal and turn on too much,
then I am at very high risk for developing cancer. Is that right?" Choose the best
response. Correct answer- Yes, you are correct.
Mr. Tabor has the wasting syndrome associated with cancer and cancer treatment.
What term should you use to describe his condition at change-of-shift report? Correct
answer- Cachexia
Miss Murcheson has a malignant tumor. She says, "The doctor said my tumor is
growing really quickly. Why does it grow so fast?" Which of the following principles is
the basis for the response that you should provide her in layperson terms? Correct
answer- Malignant cells lack contact inhibition.
A woman who is infected with which of the following viruses should undergo periodic
screening for cervical cancer? Correct answer- Human papillomavirus
Mr. Jenner has stage IV colon cancer and he is receiving chemotherapy today. "Please
tell me again what stage IV means," he says. Choose the best response. Correct
answer- Your cancer has spread to distant lymph nodes and is growing in other
locations that are far from where it began.
Which of the following risk factors should you teach people to avoid in order to reduce
their risk of lung, bladder, pancreatic, renal, laryngeal, pharyngeal, and esophageal
cancer? Correct answer- Tobacco use
