Cancer basics
This programmed process causes damaged or unnecessary cells to die.
What is apoptosis?
Avoiding tobacco use is this type of cancer prevention.
What is primary prevention?
This cancer treatment is generally considered systemic rather than local.
What is chemotherapy?
A patient receiving this chemotherapy medication requires monitoring for cardiotoxicity.
What is doxorubicin?
A chemotherapy patient has a platelet count of 25,000/mm³. This complication is the major concern.
What is bleeding?
“There’s no place like home.”
What is The Wizard of Oz?
During this phase of carcinogenesis, genetically altered cells are stimulated to multiply.
What is promotion?
Mammography in an asymptomatic patient is an example of this strategy.
What is screening/secondary prevention?
A biopsy performed to determine whether a suspicious mass is cancer is this purpose of surgery.
What is diagnostic surgery?
Increasing creatinine and decreasing urine output are especially concerning in a patient receiving this medication.
What is cisplatin?
Chemotherapy damages rapidly dividing cells in this tissue, causing anemia, thrombocytopenia, and neutropenia.
What is bone marrow?
“Nobody puts Baby in a corner.”
What is Dirty Dancing?
This term describes the formation of new blood vessels that supply a growing tumor.
What is angiogenesis?
A patient has a persistent cough, unexplained weight loss, and fatigue. These findings should prompt this next general action.
What is further diagnostic evaluation?
Surgery performed to decrease the likelihood of cancer developing in a patient at very high risk is this type.
What is prophylactic surgery?
A patient receiving cyclophosphamide develops hematuria. The nurse should recognize this serious adverse effect.
What is hemorrhagic cystitis?
A patient receiving chemotherapy has painful oral ulcerations and difficulty eating. This adverse effect is occurring.
What is mucositis?
“So you’re telling me there’s a chance.”
What is Dumb and Dumber?
In the TNM system, this letter describes whether cancer has spread to distant sites.
What is M (metastasis)?
CT identifies a suspicious lung mass. This procedure is needed to obtain tissue and establish a definitive cancer diagnosis.
What is a biopsy?
A patient with advanced cancer undergoes surgery to relieve a bowel obstruction and improve comfort.
What is palliative surgery?
This chemotherapy drug can cause bone marrow suppression, mucositis, and hepatotoxicity.
What is methotrexate?
A chemotherapy patient has Hgb 9.2 g/dL, platelets 105,000/mm³, ANC 400/mm³, and temperature 101.2°F. This combination is the priority.
What is fever with severe neutropenia?
"Hey, you guys!"
What is The Goonies?
A tumor has poorly differentiated cells but remains localized without distant metastasis. Which describes cellular appearance—grade or stage?
What is grade?
A patient knows colorectal screening is recommended but cannot miss work and has no transportation. The nurse should address this before simply providing more education.
What are the patient's barriers to care/access?
A patient with localized cancer has the tumor removed, but additional treatment is recommended afterward. Why doesn't surgery necessarily mean treatment is complete?
What is additional therapy may be needed based on cancer type, stage, pathology, and risk of remaining disease?
A patient receiving doxorubicin notices reddish urine after treatment but has no dysuria or other evidence of bleeding. What should the nurse recognize?
What is an expected temporary discoloration from doxorubicin?
A neutropenic chemotherapy patient develops a fever. The nurse should take this action rather than administering an antipyretic and waiting to reassess.
What is immediately escalate/report the fever and initiate the prescribed neutropenic-fever evaluation/protocol?
"Keep the change ya filthy animal."
What is Home Alone?