A nurse is conducting a health history assessment for a patient with lymphoma.
What information should the nurse prioritize collecting during this assessment?
"Tell me about the characteristics of your symptoms.”
"Do you have a family history of cardiovascular disease?”
"Have you ever had surgery?”
"What is your favorite type of food?”
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale:
When assessing a patient with lymphoma, it is crucial to gather information about the characteristics of their symptoms.
Lymphoma symptoms can vary widely depending on the type, stage, and location of the cancer.
Understanding the specific symptoms, such as fatigue, night sweats, enlarged lymph nodes, unexplained weight loss, and itching, can help the nurse assess the severity and progression of the disease.
This information guides the healthcare team in making a diagnosis, determining the appropriate treatment plan, and monitoring the patient's response to treatment.
Choice B rationale:
"Do you have a family history of cardiovascular disease?" While family history is important for assessing the risk of various health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, it is not the primary concern when assessing a patient with lymphoma.
Lymphoma is a type of cancer, and the focus should be on gathering information related to cancer symptoms and risk factors.
Choice C rationale:
"Have you ever had surgery?" The patient's surgical history may be relevant for their overall health assessment, but it is not the top priority when assessing a patient with lymphoma.
The nurse should first focus on collecting information directly related to lymphoma symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.
Choice D rationale:
"What is your favorite type of food?" The patient's food preferences are not relevant to the assessment of lymphoma.
This question does not provide essential information for evaluating the patient's condition or developing an appropriate care plan.
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Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
When assessing a patient with lymphoma, it is crucial to gather information about the characteristics of their symptoms.
Lymphoma symptoms can vary widely depending on the type, stage, and location of the cancer.
Understanding the specific symptoms, such as fatigue, night sweats, enlarged lymph nodes, unexplained weight loss, and itching, can help the nurse assess the severity and progression of the disease.
This information guides the healthcare team in making a diagnosis, determining the appropriate treatment plan, and monitoring the patient's response to treatment.
Choice B rationale:
"Do you have a family history of cardiovascular disease?" While family history is important for assessing the risk of various health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, it is not the primary concern when assessing a patient with lymphoma.
Lymphoma is a type of cancer, and the focus should be on gathering information related to cancer symptoms and risk factors.
Choice C rationale:
"Have you ever had surgery?" The patient's surgical history may be relevant for their overall health assessment, but it is not the top priority when assessing a patient with lymphoma.
The nurse should first focus on collecting information directly related to lymphoma symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.
Choice D rationale:
"What is your favorite type of food?" The patient's food preferences are not relevant to the assessment of lymphoma.
This question does not provide essential information for evaluating the patient's condition or developing an appropriate care plan.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Fever exceeding 38°C is a common symptom in HL, known as "Pel-Ebstein fever." This cyclic pattern of fever is characteristic of Hodgkin's lymphoma, but it is not the only common symptom.
Therefore, this choice is partially correct but not the most comprehensive.
Choice B rationale:
Significant unexplained weight loss over a period of six months or less is a classic "B" symptom associated with HL.
B symptoms are systemic symptoms that indicate a more advanced stage of the disease and typically include fever, night sweats, and weight loss exceeding 10% of the patient's baseline.
This choice is correct and represents a hallmark of HL.
Choice C rationale:
Abdominal pain and fullness are not typically associated with Hodgkin's lymphoma.
These symptoms are more commonly linked to other lymphoproliferative disorders or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL)
Choice D rationale:
Difficulty breathing is not a primary symptom of Hodgkin's lymphoma.
While it is possible for HL to cause enlarged lymph nodes in the mediastinum, leading to compression of the airways, this is not a common presenting symptom.
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