A nurse is providing education and information to a patient with lymphoma.
Which of the following topics should the nurse include in the education process?

Choice A rationale:

Monitor the patient's dietary intake.

Lymphoma patients often experience weight loss and weakness due to the effects of the disease and its treatment, including anorexia and nausea.

Monitoring the patient's dietary intake is essential to assess nutritional status, identify any deficiencies, and develop an appropriate nutritional plan.

It helps ensure that the patient receives adequate nutrients and calories to support their healing process.

Choice B rationale:

Administer intravenous fluids as prescribed.

While hydration is important, administering intravenous fluids should not be the first-line intervention for weight loss and weakness in a lymphoma patient.

Intravenous fluids may be necessary in cases of dehydration, but they do not address the underlying nutritional issues.

Other interventions, such as dietary modifications and supplements, should be considered first.

Choice C rationale:

Advise the patient to eat spicy and fatty foods.

Advising the patient to eat spicy and fatty foods is not appropriate for a patient with lymphoma who is experiencing weight loss and weakness.

Such foods can exacerbate gastrointestinal symptoms, leading to discomfort and further decreased food intake.

The focus should be on providing a balanced and nutritious diet.

Choice D rationale:

Recommend avoiding high-calorie foods.

Avoiding high-calorie foods is not advisable for a lymphoma patient experiencing weight loss and weakness.

These patients often require extra calories to combat weight loss and support their energy needs during treatment.

Encouraging a healthy intake of calories from nutritious sources is more appropriate.

Choice A rationale:

Night sweats are one of the B-symptoms associated with lymphoma.

B-symptoms are systemic symptoms that include night sweats, unexplained weight loss, and fever.

These symptoms can be indicative of lymphoma, and their presence should be assessed in a patient with suspected lymphoma.

Choice B rationale:

Unexplained weight loss is another B-symptom commonly associated with lymphoma.

It can be a sign of lymphoma-related metabolic changes.

Assessing weight loss is important in evaluating a patient with suspected lymphoma.

Choice C rationale:

A constant cough that won't go away is not typically associated with lymphoma.

While lymphoma can cause respiratory symptoms if it involves lymph nodes in the chest, such as mediastinal lymph nodes, a persistent cough is not a primary symptom.

Choice D rationale:

Feeling weak and fatigued can be a non-specific symptom seen in various medical conditions, including lymphoma.

However, it is not a B-symptom and does not specifically point to lymphoma.

While fatigue can be associated with the disease, it is essential to consider other symptoms like night sweats and unexplained weight loss when assessing a patient for lymphoma.