A client with leukemia is receiving radiation therapy. The nurse should assess the client regularly for which potential side effect of this treatment?
Peripheral neuropathy
Nausea and vomiting
Alopecia (hair loss)
Neutropenia (low neutrophil count)
The Correct Answer is D
A) This choice is incorrect because peripheral neuropathy is more commonly associated with certain chemotherapy drugs, not radiation therapy.
B) This choice is incorrect because nausea and vomiting are common side effects of chemotherapy, not radiation therapy.
C) This choice is incorrect because alopecia (hair loss) is more commonly associated with chemotherapy, not radiation therapy.
D) This choice is correct. Neutropenia, which is a decrease in the number of neutrophils (a type of white blood cell), is a potential side effect of radiation therapy. This can increase the client's risk of infection, and regular monitoring of blood counts is necessary during treatment.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A) This choice is incorrect because increased platelet production would not lead to easy bruising and petechiae. It would, in fact, improve clotting abilities.
B) This choice is incorrect because overproduction of red blood cells would not directly cause easy bruising and petechiae. It may lead to symptoms like fatigue and pallor.
C) This choice is correct. Easy bruising and petechiae are common in leukemia due to a deficiency of platelets and impaired clotting factors in the blood. Leukemia can lead to decreased platelet production and clotting abnormalities, resulting in easy bleeding and bruising.
D) This choice is incorrect because a deficiency of white blood cells would not directly cause easy bruising and petechiae. It might lead to an increased risk of infections.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A) This choice is incorrect because leukemia does not result from an overproduction of platelets. Leukemia involves an overproduction of abnormal white blood cells.
B) This choice is incorrect because leukemia is not caused by the body's immune system attacking healthy white blood cells. Instead, it involves the uncontrolled growth of abnormal white blood cells.
C) This choice is correct. Leukemia is characterized by genetic mutations in the bone marrow cells, particularly in the stem cells that produce white blood cells. These mutations lead to uncontrolled growth and proliferation of abnormal white blood cells, interfering with the normal production of other blood cells.
D) This choice is incorrect because an imbalance of red blood cells would not trigger the overproduction of white blood cells. Leukemia is specifically a disorder of white blood cell proliferation.
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