Exam 101: Basic Principles of Cancer Chemotherapy

A patient with cancer who is receiving chemotherapy develops a fever. The patient's chest radiograph is normal. The patient's neutrophil count is 750/mm³. The nurse expects the provider to:

A nurse explains to a patient with cancer why it is difficult to achieve 100% cell kill to cure cancer with chemotherapy. Which statement by the patient indicates a need for further teaching?

A patient asks a nurse about ways to minimize side effects of chemotherapy. Which response is correct?

The nurse wants to evaluate a nursing student's understanding of chemotherapy. The nurse asks,"Which factor would be a major obstacle to successful chemotherapy?" What is the student's best response?

A patient who has undergone surgical removal of a solid tumor has just begun chemotherapy. The patient experiences severe nausea and vomiting as well as alopecia. The nurse will expect the provider to:

A nurse is teaching a group of nursing students about how cytotoxic anticancer drugs affect normal cells. Which statement by a student indicates an understanding of this teaching?

These patients are receiving chemotherapy. Which patient should the nurse see first?

A nursing student asks a nurse why chemotherapeutic agents are given intermittently instead of continuously. The nurse will tell the student that intermittent dosing:

A patient who has leukemia is receiving chemotherapy and develops severe anemia. The provider has ordered hospitalization and blood transfusions. The patient asks the nurse about using erythropoietin (epoetin alfa)instead. What will the nurse tell this patient?

A hospitalized patient with cancer is receiving chemotherapy and reports oral pain. Inspection of this patient's oral mucosa reveals erythema and inflammation without denudation or ulceration. The nurse understands that:

A patient is receiving chemotherapy. Seven days after a dose,the patient's neutrophil count is 1000 cells/mm³. The nurse will tell this patient:

A nurse is teaching a group of nursing students about cancer treatment. Which statement by a student indicates an understanding of the characteristics of cancer cells?

A patient has just been diagnosed with cancer and will begin chemotherapy. The patient asks the nurse about the possibility of nausea and vomiting. The nurse will tell the patient that:

A patient with cancer has a tumor composed mostly of G₀ cells. When teaching this patient about the disease,the nurse will make which statement?

What contributes to drug resistance to chemotherapeutic agents? (Select all that apply.)

Which are guidelines for selecting chemotherapeutic agents to use in combination therapy? (Select all that apply.)