Oncology QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
VERIFIED AND GRADED 2024
1. The nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client diagnosed
with multiple myeloma. Which would the nurse expect to note
specifically in this disorder?
Increased calcium level
Increased white blood cells
Decreased blood urea nitrogen level
Decreased number of plasma cells in the bone marrow: Findings
indicative of multiple myeloma are an increased number of plasma cells
in the bone marrow, anemia, hypercalcemia caused by the release of
calcium from the deteriorating bone tissue, and an elevated blood urea
nitrogen level. An increased white blood cell count may or may not be
present and is not related specifically to multiple myeloma.
2. The nurse is developing a plan of care for the client with multiple
myeloma and includes which priority intervention in the plan?
Encouraging fluids
Providing frequent oral care
Coughing and deep breathing
Monitoring the red blood cell count: Hypercalcemia caused by bone
destruction is a priority concern in the client with multiple myeloma. The
nurse should administer fluids in adequate amounts to maintain a urine
output of 1.5 to 2 L/day; this requires about 3 L of fluid intake per day.
The fluid is needed not only to dilute the calcium overload but also to
prevent protein from precipitating in the renal tubules. Options 2, 3, and
4 may be components of the plan of care but are not the priority in this
client.
,3. A client is admitted to the hospital with a suspected diagnosis of
Hodgkin's disease. Which assessment finding would the nurse expect
to note specifically in the client? Fatigue
Weakness
Weight gain
Enlarged lymph nodes: Hodgkin's disease is a chronic progressive
neoplastic disorder of lymphoid tissue characterized by the painless
enlargement of lymph nodes with progression to extralymphatic sites,
such as the spleen and liver. Weight loss is most likely to be noted. Fatigue
and weakness may occur but are not related significantly to the disease.
4. During the admission assessment of a client with advanced ovarian
cancer, the nurse recognizes which symptom as typical of the disease?
Diarrhea
Hypermenorrhea
Abnormal bleeding
Abdominal distention: Clinical manifestations of ovarian cancer include
abdominal distention, urinary frequency and urgency, pleural effusion,
malnutrition, pain from pressure caused by the growing tumor and the
effects of urinary or bowel obstruction, constipation, ascites with
dyspnea, and ultimately general severe pain. Abnormal bleeding, often
resulting in hypermenorrhea, is associated with uterine cancer.
5. The nurse is caring for a client with bladder cancer and bone
metastasis. What signs/symptoms would the nurse recognize as
indications of a possible oncological emergency? Select all that apply.
Facial edema in the morning
Serum calcium level of 12 mg/dL
Weight loss of 20 lb in 1 month
Serum sodium level of 136 mg/dL
Serum potassium level of 3.4 mg/dL
,Numbness and tingling of the lower extremities: Oncological
emergencies include sepsis, disseminated intravascular coagulation,
syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone, spinal cord
compression, hypercalcemia, superior vena cava syndrome, and tumor
lysis syndrome. Blockage of blood flow to the venous system of the head
resulting in facial edema is a sign of superior vena cava syndrome. A
serum calcium level of 12 mg/dL indicates hypercalcemia. Numbness and
tingling of the lower extremities could be a sign of spinal cord
compression. Mild hypokalemia and weight loss are not oncological
emergencies. A sodium level of 136 mg/dL is a normal level.
6. A client who has been receiving radiation therapy for bladder
cancer tells the nurse that it feels as if she is voiding through the
vagina. The nurse interprets that the client may be experiencing which
condition?
Rupture of the bladder
The development of a vesicovaginal fistula
Extreme stress caused by the diagnosis of cancer
Altered perineal sensation as a side effect of radiation therapy: A
vesicovaginal fistula is a genital fistula that occurs between the bladder
and vagina. The fistula is an abnormal opening between these two body
parts and, if this occurs, the client may experience drainage of urine
through the vagina. The client's complaint is not associated with options
1, 3, or 4.
7. A client is diagnosed with multiple myeloma and the client asks
the nurse about the diagnosis. The nurse bases the response on which
description of this disorder?
Altered red blood cell production
Altered production of lymph nodes
, Malignant exacerbation in the number of leukocytes
Malignant proliferation of plasma cells within the bone: Multiple
myeloma is a B-cell neoplastic condition characterized by abnormal
malignant proliferation of plasma cells and the accumulation of mature
plasma cells in the bone marrow. Options 1 and 2 are not characteristics of
multiple myeloma. Option 3 describes the leukemic process.
8. The nurse is teaching a client about the risk factors associated
with colorectal cancer. The nurse determines that further teaching is
necessary related to colorectal cancer if the client identifies which item
as an associated risk factor?
Age younger than 50 years
History of colorectal polyps
Family history of colorectal cancer
Chronic inflammatory bowel disease: Colorectal cancer risk factors
include age older than 50 years, a family history of the disease, colorectal
polyps, and chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
9. The nurse is reviewing the history of a client with bladder cancer.
The nurse expects to note documentation of which most common
symptom of this type of cancer? Dysuria
Hematuria
Urgency on urination
Frequency of urination: The most common symptom in clients with
cancer of the bladder is hematuria. The client also may experience
irritative voiding symptoms such as frequency, urgency, and dysuria, and
these symptoms often are associated with carcinoma in situ. Dysuria,
urgency, and frequency of urination are also signs of a bladder infection.
10. A client with carcinoma of the lung develops syndrome of
inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) as a complication of the
cancer. The nurse anticipates that the health care provider will request
which prescriptions? Select all that apply
Radiation
VERIFIED AND GRADED 2024
1. The nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client diagnosed
with multiple myeloma. Which would the nurse expect to note
specifically in this disorder?
Increased calcium level
Increased white blood cells
Decreased blood urea nitrogen level
Decreased number of plasma cells in the bone marrow: Findings
indicative of multiple myeloma are an increased number of plasma cells
in the bone marrow, anemia, hypercalcemia caused by the release of
calcium from the deteriorating bone tissue, and an elevated blood urea
nitrogen level. An increased white blood cell count may or may not be
present and is not related specifically to multiple myeloma.
2. The nurse is developing a plan of care for the client with multiple
myeloma and includes which priority intervention in the plan?
Encouraging fluids
Providing frequent oral care
Coughing and deep breathing
Monitoring the red blood cell count: Hypercalcemia caused by bone
destruction is a priority concern in the client with multiple myeloma. The
nurse should administer fluids in adequate amounts to maintain a urine
output of 1.5 to 2 L/day; this requires about 3 L of fluid intake per day.
The fluid is needed not only to dilute the calcium overload but also to
prevent protein from precipitating in the renal tubules. Options 2, 3, and
4 may be components of the plan of care but are not the priority in this
client.
,3. A client is admitted to the hospital with a suspected diagnosis of
Hodgkin's disease. Which assessment finding would the nurse expect
to note specifically in the client? Fatigue
Weakness
Weight gain
Enlarged lymph nodes: Hodgkin's disease is a chronic progressive
neoplastic disorder of lymphoid tissue characterized by the painless
enlargement of lymph nodes with progression to extralymphatic sites,
such as the spleen and liver. Weight loss is most likely to be noted. Fatigue
and weakness may occur but are not related significantly to the disease.
4. During the admission assessment of a client with advanced ovarian
cancer, the nurse recognizes which symptom as typical of the disease?
Diarrhea
Hypermenorrhea
Abnormal bleeding
Abdominal distention: Clinical manifestations of ovarian cancer include
abdominal distention, urinary frequency and urgency, pleural effusion,
malnutrition, pain from pressure caused by the growing tumor and the
effects of urinary or bowel obstruction, constipation, ascites with
dyspnea, and ultimately general severe pain. Abnormal bleeding, often
resulting in hypermenorrhea, is associated with uterine cancer.
5. The nurse is caring for a client with bladder cancer and bone
metastasis. What signs/symptoms would the nurse recognize as
indications of a possible oncological emergency? Select all that apply.
Facial edema in the morning
Serum calcium level of 12 mg/dL
Weight loss of 20 lb in 1 month
Serum sodium level of 136 mg/dL
Serum potassium level of 3.4 mg/dL
,Numbness and tingling of the lower extremities: Oncological
emergencies include sepsis, disseminated intravascular coagulation,
syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone, spinal cord
compression, hypercalcemia, superior vena cava syndrome, and tumor
lysis syndrome. Blockage of blood flow to the venous system of the head
resulting in facial edema is a sign of superior vena cava syndrome. A
serum calcium level of 12 mg/dL indicates hypercalcemia. Numbness and
tingling of the lower extremities could be a sign of spinal cord
compression. Mild hypokalemia and weight loss are not oncological
emergencies. A sodium level of 136 mg/dL is a normal level.
6. A client who has been receiving radiation therapy for bladder
cancer tells the nurse that it feels as if she is voiding through the
vagina. The nurse interprets that the client may be experiencing which
condition?
Rupture of the bladder
The development of a vesicovaginal fistula
Extreme stress caused by the diagnosis of cancer
Altered perineal sensation as a side effect of radiation therapy: A
vesicovaginal fistula is a genital fistula that occurs between the bladder
and vagina. The fistula is an abnormal opening between these two body
parts and, if this occurs, the client may experience drainage of urine
through the vagina. The client's complaint is not associated with options
1, 3, or 4.
7. A client is diagnosed with multiple myeloma and the client asks
the nurse about the diagnosis. The nurse bases the response on which
description of this disorder?
Altered red blood cell production
Altered production of lymph nodes
, Malignant exacerbation in the number of leukocytes
Malignant proliferation of plasma cells within the bone: Multiple
myeloma is a B-cell neoplastic condition characterized by abnormal
malignant proliferation of plasma cells and the accumulation of mature
plasma cells in the bone marrow. Options 1 and 2 are not characteristics of
multiple myeloma. Option 3 describes the leukemic process.
8. The nurse is teaching a client about the risk factors associated
with colorectal cancer. The nurse determines that further teaching is
necessary related to colorectal cancer if the client identifies which item
as an associated risk factor?
Age younger than 50 years
History of colorectal polyps
Family history of colorectal cancer
Chronic inflammatory bowel disease: Colorectal cancer risk factors
include age older than 50 years, a family history of the disease, colorectal
polyps, and chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
9. The nurse is reviewing the history of a client with bladder cancer.
The nurse expects to note documentation of which most common
symptom of this type of cancer? Dysuria
Hematuria
Urgency on urination
Frequency of urination: The most common symptom in clients with
cancer of the bladder is hematuria. The client also may experience
irritative voiding symptoms such as frequency, urgency, and dysuria, and
these symptoms often are associated with carcinoma in situ. Dysuria,
urgency, and frequency of urination are also signs of a bladder infection.
10. A client with carcinoma of the lung develops syndrome of
inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) as a complication of the
cancer. The nurse anticipates that the health care provider will request
which prescriptions? Select all that apply
Radiation
