C HAPTER 45: A NTINEOPLASTIC D RUGS
P ART 1: C ANCER O VERVIEW AND C ELL
C YCLE -S PECIFIC D RUGS
Lilley: Pharmacology and the Nursing Process, 10th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The nurse is evaluating the laboratory results of a patient who has
received chemotherapy. The loss of which blood cell leads to lack of
energy, fatigue, intolerance of activit y and hypoxemia?
a. White blood cells
b. Red blood cells
c. Platelets
d. Albumin
ANS: B
Bone marrow suppression from antineoplastics affects RBC values,
leading to severe anemia. RBCs carry ox ygen —attached to the
hemoglobin—from the lungs to the rest of the body. RBCs also help
carry carbon dioxide back to the lungs for exhalation. Therefore, if
RBC counts are low (e.g., with anemia), the body does not get the
oxygen it needs, which leads to lack of energy, fatigue, intolerance of
activit y, shortness of breath, and hypoxemia.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation
, MSC: NC LEX: Physiological Integrit y: Pharmacological and
Parenteral Therapies
2. A patient is receiving irinotecan, along with other anti neoplastic drugs, as
treatment for ovarian cancer. The nurse will monitor for which potentiall y
life-threatening adverse effect that is associated with this drug?
a. Severe stomatitis
b. Bone marrow suppression
c. Delayed-onset cholinergic diarrhea
d. Immediate and severe nausea and vomiting
ANS: C
In addition to producing hematologic adverse effects, irinotecan has
been associated with severe diarrhea, known as cholinergic diarrhea,
which may occur during infusions. Delayed diarrhea may occur 2 to 10
days after infusi on of irinotecan. It is recommended that this condition
can be treated with atropine unless use of that drug is strongl y
contraindicated. This diarrhea can be severe and even life threatening.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursin g Process: Evaluation
MSC: NC LEX: Physiological Integrit y: Pharmacological and
Parenteral Therapies
3. The nurse is monitoring a patient who has severe bone marrow
suppression following antineoplastic drug therapy. Which is considered a
principal earl y sign o f infection?
a. Fever
b. Diaphoresis
c. Tachycardia
d. Elevated white blood cell count
P ART 1: C ANCER O VERVIEW AND C ELL
C YCLE -S PECIFIC D RUGS
Lilley: Pharmacology and the Nursing Process, 10th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The nurse is evaluating the laboratory results of a patient who has
received chemotherapy. The loss of which blood cell leads to lack of
energy, fatigue, intolerance of activit y and hypoxemia?
a. White blood cells
b. Red blood cells
c. Platelets
d. Albumin
ANS: B
Bone marrow suppression from antineoplastics affects RBC values,
leading to severe anemia. RBCs carry ox ygen —attached to the
hemoglobin—from the lungs to the rest of the body. RBCs also help
carry carbon dioxide back to the lungs for exhalation. Therefore, if
RBC counts are low (e.g., with anemia), the body does not get the
oxygen it needs, which leads to lack of energy, fatigue, intolerance of
activit y, shortness of breath, and hypoxemia.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation
, MSC: NC LEX: Physiological Integrit y: Pharmacological and
Parenteral Therapies
2. A patient is receiving irinotecan, along with other anti neoplastic drugs, as
treatment for ovarian cancer. The nurse will monitor for which potentiall y
life-threatening adverse effect that is associated with this drug?
a. Severe stomatitis
b. Bone marrow suppression
c. Delayed-onset cholinergic diarrhea
d. Immediate and severe nausea and vomiting
ANS: C
In addition to producing hematologic adverse effects, irinotecan has
been associated with severe diarrhea, known as cholinergic diarrhea,
which may occur during infusions. Delayed diarrhea may occur 2 to 10
days after infusi on of irinotecan. It is recommended that this condition
can be treated with atropine unless use of that drug is strongl y
contraindicated. This diarrhea can be severe and even life threatening.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursin g Process: Evaluation
MSC: NC LEX: Physiological Integrit y: Pharmacological and
Parenteral Therapies
3. The nurse is monitoring a patient who has severe bone marrow
suppression following antineoplastic drug therapy. Which is considered a
principal earl y sign o f infection?
a. Fever
b. Diaphoresis
c. Tachycardia
d. Elevated white blood cell count
