Certificate Exam Questions And Answers Verified
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Risk factors for developing neutropenia include: - ANSWER- > 65 years old
Hx of neutropenia with previous chemotherapy
Hx of chemotherapy or radiation treatment
Hematologic malignancy
Uncontrolled/advanced cancer
Lung cancer
Define neutropenic fever - ANSWER- Fever of 101 F or greater one time
OR
Fever of 100.4 F lasting one hour or longer
ANC calculation - ANSWER- (% polys + % bands) x (WBC)/100
Normal WBC count - ANSWER- 4,500-10,000
Normal neutrophil count - ANSWER- 54%-62% of WBC
An ANC of less that _____ is considered a risk for infection - ANSWER- 1,000
Define thrombocytopenia - ANSWER- Low platelet count
Symptoms of thrombocytopenia - ANSWER- Petechiae or easily bruising
Headaches
Hypotension and tachycardia
Prolonged bleeding (gums, menstruation)
Define anemia - ANSWER- Deficiency of RBC or hemoglobin in the blood
Symptoms of anemia - ANSWER- Dyspnea
Fatigue
Dizziness
Headaches
,Acute diarrhea lasts: - ANSWER- 1-2 days and resolves on its own
Persistent diarrhea lasts: - ANSWER- 2-4 weeks
Chronic diarrhea lasts: - ANSWER- > 4 weeks
Common constipation-causing agents: - ANSWER- Vinca alkaloids (vincristine
and vinorelbine) Thalidomide
Lenalidomide
Bortezomib
Define mucositis - ANSWER- Inflammation of the mucous membranes lining the
digestive tract from mouth to anus
Define stomatitis - ANSWER- Inflammatory conditions of the mouth specifically
AKA oral mucositis
Define xerostomia - ANSWER- Dryness of the mouth caused by damage to or
dysfunction of the salivary glands
Common diarrhea-causing agents: - ANSWER- Irinotecan
5-FU
Paclitaxel
Dactinomycin
Capecitabine
Hypersensitivity reaction (HSR) versus anaphylaxis - ANSWER- HSR- localized
tissue injury; generalized
Anaphylaxis- severe inflammatory response; systemic; caused by histamine release
Immediate HSR can occur: - ANSWER- Within 5 minutes of start of infusion to 6
hours following infusion
Delayed HSR can occur: - ANSWER- Days or weeks after immediate HSR
window
Risk factors for HSR and anaphylaxis: - ANSWER- Administration of a known
,HSR causing agent
Hx of allergies
Hx of hypersensitivity or anaphylaxis
Premedications not ordered/administered
First thing to do if a HSR occurs: - ANSWER- STOP THE INFUSION
IMMEDIATELY
Define cumulative dose - ANSWER- Total dose of an antineoplastic agent or
radiation after repeated exposure to the treatment
Define single dose - ANSWER- Recommended dose of one antineoplastic agent
given at a single point in time
Define course dose (AKA divided dose) - ANSWER- Recommended dose of one
antineoplastic agent given over a defined period of time
Define extravasation - ANSWER- Leak of a drug capable of causing tissue damage
from the intended vessel into the surrounding tissue or unintended sites
Agents classified as irritants can cause: - ANSWER- Inflammation
Pain
Burning
** Rarely cause tissue necrosis comparable to vesicants
Agents classified as vesicants can cause: - ANSWER- Blistering
Significant pain
Tissue damage and destruction
**Lead to tissue death
Define infiltration - ANSWER- Leakage of non-vesicant/non-irritant solutions into
surrounding tissue
Common plant alkaloids: - ANSWER- Etoposide
Docetaxel
Paclitaxel
Vinblastine
Vinorelbine
, Vinca alkaloids are ALL administered _(1)_ and should NEVER be administered
_(2)_, as this will result in patient death - ANSWER- 1. Intravenously
2. Intrathecally
How does hormone therapy work? - ANSWER- Attempts to add, block, or remove
hormones from the body to interrupt cancer cell division
LHRH agonists MOA - ANSWER- Produce an initial increase in LH and FSH,
which can cause a flare. Then lower testosterone made by testicles and estrogen &
progesterone made by ovaries
*Prostate cancer
*Estrogen receptor-positive, premenopausal metastatic breat cancer
LHRH antagonists MOA - ANSWER- Directly inhibits pituitary from releasing
LH and FSH
*No tumor flare
Most common type of breast cancer - ANSWER- Hormone receptor (HR)-positive
breast cancer
Aromatase inhibitors MOA - ANSWER- Block the enzyme aromatase, which turns
the hormone androgen into small amounts of estrogen in the body
**Less estrogen is available to stimulate growth of HR-positive breast cancer cells
2 types of aromatase inhibitors - ANSWER- 1. Steroidal (irreversible)
2. Nonsteroidal (reversible)
3 aromatase inhibitors - ANSWER- Anastrozole
Letrozole
Exemestane