A home health nurse is compiling a patient profile on a 23-year-old obese woman who smokes one-half pack of cigarettes a day and drinks 1 beer a week. She works as a cook in a long-term care facility. She has two children and eats a diet high in fats. She exercises 30 minutes a day. Both parents are dead of heart disease. How many risk factors for cancer in this profile should the nurse identify?
6
5
3
2
The Correct Answer is B
Rationale:
A. This is inaccurate, check correct rationale on B
B. Cancer risk factors are aspects of a person’s lifestyle, environment, or genetics that increase their likelihood of developing cancer. In this patient profile, the following risk factors are identified:
- Obesity – Being overweight increases the risk for several cancers, including breast, colon, and endometrial cancers.
- Smoking – Even half a pack a day increases risk for lung, oral, and other cancers.
- Diet high in fats – Diets high in saturated fats and low in fruits/vegetables are linked to increased cancer risk.
- Occupational exposure – Working as a cook in a long-term care facility may involve exposure to carcinogens from smoke, fumes, or chemicals.
- Family history of heart disease – While heart disease itself is not a cancer risk factor, hereditary cancer risk is not explicitly mentioned, so we do not count this as a cancer risk.
Not counted:
- Drinking 1 beer a week is minimal alcohol consumption and generally not considered a significant cancer risk.
- Exercising 30 minutes a day is protective, not a risk factor.
Therefore, the nurse should identify 5 cancer risk factors in this profile.
C. This is inaccurate, check correct rationale on B
D. This is inaccurate, check correct rationale on B
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["A","B","C","E"]
Explanation
Rationale:
A. Surgery is a primary treatment for many cancers and can be used alone to remove localized tumors or in combination with other treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation to improve outcomes.
B. Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells. It can be administered alone for localized cancers or in combination with surgery or chemotherapy to enhance treatment effectiveness.
C. Immunotherapy stimulates the patient’s immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. It can be used alone or combined with other treatments depending on the cancer type and stage.
D. Phlebotomy, which involves removing blood, is used for conditions like polycythemia vera or hemochromatosis, but it is not a treatment for cancer.
E. Chemotherapy involves systemic administration of anti-cancer drugs to destroy rapidly dividing cells. It can be used alone for widespread cancer or in combination with surgery, radiation, or immunotherapy to improve outcomes.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Rationale:
A. Superficial spreading melanoma usually presents as a variegated lesion with shades of brown, tan, or black, often with irregular borders and asymmetry. A purplish hue is not typical of this type of melanoma; lesions with purple tones may indicate vascular lesions (like hemangiomas) or rare cancers such as Kaposi sarcoma.
B. Early superficial spreading melanoma is typically painless. Pain is not a reliable indicator of early melanoma and usually only occurs if the lesion becomes ulcerated, infected, or grows deeply into the skin layers, which is more characteristic of advanced disease.
C. Melanoma is a malignant lesion, not an infection, so it does not normally produce pus. Purulent drainage would suggest a bacterial infection, abscess, or skin ulcer rather than a cancerous lesion.
D. Pruritus, or itching, is an expected finding in superficial spreading melanoma. Patients may notice mild irritation or tingling at the site of the lesion, often before any other changes are apparent. This symptom, combined with changes in size, color, shape, or the appearance of new moles, should alert the nurse to the possibility of melanoma and the need for further evaluation.
Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.
Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today
Report Wrong Answer on the Current Question
Do you disagree with the answer? If yes, what is your expected answer? Explain.
Kindly be descriptive with the issue you are facing.