Exam 5: Nursing Care of Cancer Patients

Question 1

Neoplasm

Answer 1

cells that reproduce abnormally

Question 2

Benign

Answer 2

cluster of cells NOT normal to the body that are NOT cancerous

Question 3

Malignant

Answer 3

group of cells that grow out of an organ and are poorly differentiated, poorly constructed, and multiply rapidly

Question 4

Metastasis

Answer 4

term used to describe the spread of a tumor from it’s primary site into seperate and distant areas

Question 5

Alopecia

Answer 5

hair loss

Question 6

anemia

Answer 6

abnormally low red blood cells

Question 7

anorexia

Answer 7

lack or loss of appetite for food, leads to malnutrition and low body weight

Question 8

biopsy

Answer 8

accurate identification of cancer by removal of tissue from the body

Question 9

carcinogen

Answer 9

substance that increases the risk of cancer by cellular change

Question 10

contact inhibition

Answer 10

growth regulating signals in the cells surrounding environment

Question 11

cytotoxic

Answer 11

drugs that work by targeting the damaging cells that grow at a rapid rate

Question 12

desquamation

Answer 12

flaky, peeling skin, leading to a loss of the upper skin

Question 13

in situ

Answer 13

neoplastic cells that remain in one area which are considered localized

Question 14

leukopenia

Answer 14

decrease in white blood cells

Question 15

neutropenic

Answer 15

presence of abnormally few neutrophils in the blood

Question 16

mucositis

Answer 16

painful inflammation and ulceration of the mucus membranes

Question 17

oncology

Answer 17

branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of tumors or malignancies

Question 18

oncovirus

Answer 18

rNA type viruses

Question 19

palliation

Answer 19

symptom control

Question 20

stomatitis

Answer 20

inflammation of the mouth

Question 21

thrombocytopenia

Answer 21

abnormally low blood platelets

Question 22

xerostomia

Answer 22

dry mouth

Question 23

cancer pathophysiology

Answer 23

Cancer is NOT just one disease but many different diseases with different causes, manifestations, treatments and prognoses, there are MORE than 100 types of cancer. Cancer cells do not have a LIMIT to cell division, they are immortal.

Question 24

Cancer Etiology

Answer 24

Cancer cell growth and reproduction involve three steps:
Initiation: result of an alteration in the genetic structure of the Cell (DNA)
Promotion: occurs after repeated exposure to carcinogens causing the cells to mutate, a tumor forms from mutated cells in this process
Progression: further genetic mutations occur, leads to metastasis.

Question 25

Cancer STatistics

Answer 25

87% of cancers are in people over 50 years of age
deadliest is Lung cancer
most preventable is skin

Question 26

Types of cancer

Answer 26

carcinoma-tissue of the skin, glands, digestive, urinary and respiratory tract
sarcoma- connective tissues in fat sheath that goes over nerves, muscles and bones
leukemia-blood cells, particularly WBC, plasma cells and bone marrow
Lymphoma- lymph tissue
Melanoma-skin cells

Question 27

Early detection and prevention

Answer 27

regular physical exams can detect early warning signs, regular screening, genetic testing BRAC1 and BRAC2, healthy lifestyle, not drinking alcohol, smoking, and eating healthy nutritious food, not full of chemicals

Question 28

Seven warning signs and symptoms

Answer 28

1. change in bowel or bladder habits
2. sore that doesn’t heal
3. unusual bleeding or discharge
4. thickening or lump in breast or elsewhere
5. indigestion or difficulty swallowing
6. change in wart or mole
7. nagging cough or hoarseness

Question 29

BITES

Answer 29

Bleeding, Infection, Tiredness, Emesis, Skin changes

Question 30

Staging

Answer 30

TMN
T primary Tumor- TX, cannot evaluate, T0 no evidence, Tis - in situ, T1,T2,T3,T4 size and extent
M- Distant metastasis, M0- no metastasis, M1 distant metastasis
N Regional Lymph NOdes- Nx no evaluation, N) no lymph node involvement, N1,N2,N3, involvement in regional lymph nodes

Question 31

Therapeutic Interventions

Answer 31

Surgery, curative or for palliation, radiation, chemotherapy, cytotoxic drugs

Question 32

Radiation Safety and Side effects

Answer 32

Side effects: fatigue, nausea, vomiting and anorexia, mucostis, xerostomia, skin reactions, bone marrow depression

Radiation safety : Time- administering care, Distance- distance from radiation source, shielding- use of barrier

Question 33

chemotherapy nursing care and side effects

Answer 33

bone marrow depression at nadir, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, stomatitis, alopecia, reproductive damage, neurotoxicity

Question 34

Changes that occur when a cell becomes malignant

Answer 34

causes accelerating cell division, immortal cell, doesn’t have any cell division limits, develops into a tumor, it is poorly differentiated, poorly constructed, and multiplies rapidly

Question 35

Data to collect when caring for a cancer patient

Answer 35

vitals, pain assessment ,watch for skin changes, neuro changes, assess breathing.

Question 36

Oncological emergencies and interventions

Answer 36

superior vena cava syndrome- enlarged lymph nodes in chest, blocked circulation, chest pain and dyspnea, interventions, remove restrictive clothing, oxygen supplementation, ventilated room and radiation to reduce tumor and comfort. Spinal cord compression, occurs when the growth presses on the spinal cord, may loose some motor loss, interventions, watch for neuro changes, provide safe environment, assist with activity watch for changes in location or intensity of the pain.
Hypercalcemia, occurs when serum calcium exceeds 11. interventions, maintain safety, monitor intake and output, pain control and changes in pulse rate and rhythm.

Question 37

Role of Hospice in cancer patients

Answer 37

promotes qualify of life when there is no quantity left. Includes interdisciplinary team that works together to develop a plan of care and will assist families and caregivers for up to a year after death.