A patient being treated for cancer is receiving medication for palliation. The nurse understands that palliative therapy is used to

A. "My provider will prescribe prophylactic antibiotics."

While antibiotics may be prescribed if there is a bacterial infection or exacerbation, they are not typically used prophylactically in all cases of mild emphysema.

B. "My condition is reversible with proper medications."

Emphysema is a chronic and typically irreversible condition. While medications can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life, they do not generally reverse the damage caused by emphysema.

C. "I should use albuterol (Proventil) when my symptoms worsen."

Albuterol (Proventil) is a short-acting beta-agonist bronchodilator, and it is commonly used as a rescue inhaler to provide quick relief of symptoms such as shortness of breath and wheezing in patients with conditions like emphysema. Using albuterol as needed during symptom exacerbations aligns with appropriate management of mild emphysema.

D. "I will need to take oral prednisone on a daily basis."

Daily use of oral prednisone is not a standard treatment for mild emphysema. Prednisone is a corticosteroid that may be used in certain situations, such as during exacerbations, but its long-term use carries potential risks and is generally avoided unless necessary.

Choice A rationale: Incorrect. Methotrexate is a chemotherapy drug and an immunosuppressant but not an antibiotic. It inhibits the metabolism of folic acid, which is necessary for cell replication, but it does not have antibiotic properties.

Choice B rationale: Incorrect. Antiestrogens are a class of drugs used to treat hormone-sensitive cancers like breast cancer by blocking the effects of estrogen. They are not antibiotics and do not have antimicrobial properties.

Choice C rationale: Incorrect. Corticosteroids are used in cancer treatment primarily to reduce inflammation and manage side effects of chemotherapy, such as nausea and allergic reactions. They have immunosuppressive properties but are not antibiotics.

Choice D rationale: Correct. Doxorubicin (Doxil) is an antitumor drug that also has antibiotic properties. It belongs to the anthracycline class of chemotherapy drugs and works by intercalating DNA, disrupting the replication and transcription processes, leading to cell death. Doxorubicin was originally derived from the bacterium Streptomyces peucetius, which imparts its antibiotic properties.