Oncology Quiz: Can You Care For The Cancer Patient?

1. Which lab value indicates severe bone marrow suppression from chemotherapy?

Hemoglobin 10 g/dL

WBC 3,500/μL

Platelets 50,000/μL

Albumin 3.2 g/dL

2. Which intervention prevents extravasation injury during chemotherapy infusion?

Using peripheral veins exclusively

Verifying catheter placement and monitoring for infiltration

Infusing rapidly to minimize exposure time

Applying heat to the infusion site

3. A 35-year-old woman with BRCA1 mutation is counseled about cancer risk. What is her approximate lifetime risk of breast cancer?

5-10%

25-30%

45-87%

100%

4. A patient in hospice with terminal pancreatic cancer reports uncontrolled pain despite opioids. What is the appropriate response?

Withhold pain medication to prevent addiction

Escalate opioid doses, add adjuvant analgesics, and ensure comfort-focused care

Refer immediately back to active chemotherapy

Tell the patient pain cannot be treated

5. Which psychosocial intervention is most beneficial for cancer patients experiencing existential distress?

Avoiding discussion of prognosis

Cognitive-behavioral therapy and supportive group counseling

Isolation to prevent emotional burden on family

Recommending antipsychotic medications only

6. A patient with ovarian cancer develops abdominal distension and ascites. What is the underlying pathophysiology?

Decreased albumin synthesis only

Increased vascular permeability and impaired lymphatic drainage from tumor

Excessive fluid intake

Liver failure exclusively

7. Which TNM staging component indicates the number and extent of regional lymph node involvement?

T (tumor size)

N (node involvement)

M (metastasis)

G (grade)

8. A patient receiving doxorubicin reports palpitations and dyspnea. What is the priority nursing action?

Continue infusion and monitor vitals

Stop infusion and notify provider; assess for cardiotoxicity

Increase infusion rate to complete treatment faster

Administer diuretics without provider order

9. What is the most common late effect of chest wall radiation in breast cancer survivors?

Acute dermatitis during treatment

Secondary lung cancer and cardiac disease

Immediate hair regrowth

Permanent improvement in skin texture

10. A patient with gastric cancer undergoes total gastrectomy. Which vitamin deficiency is most likely post-operatively?

Vitamin A deficiency

Vitamin B12 deficiency (from loss of intrinsic factor)

Vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin K deficiency

11. A 58-year-old patient with stage III colon cancer begins chemotherapy. Which side effect requires immediate intervention?

Mild nausea managed with antiemetics

Severe neutropenia with fever and infection risk

Temporary hair loss

Fatigue lasting 2-3 hours after treatment

12. A 62-year-old male with metastatic melanoma experiences severe fatigue and anorexia. Which nursing intervention addresses quality of life?

Force feeding high-calorie meals

Assess nutritional intake, offer small frequent meals, and refer to oncology dietitian

Recommend strict bed rest

Discontinue all treatment

13. What is the primary mechanism of action for checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy in cancer treatment?

Direct killing of cancer cells

Blocking immune checkpoint proteins to enhance T-cell recognition of cancer

Replacing damaged immune cells

Preventing angiogenesis

14. A patient with lung cancer develops sudden chest pain and shortness of breath. What is the priority assessment?

Rule out pulmonary embolism and pneumothorax

Assume it is anxiety related to cancer diagnosis

Wait for scheduled imaging in two days

Administer oxygen and discharge home

15. Which intervention is most effective for preventing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV)?

Eating large meals before treatment

5-HT3 antagonists and NK1 receptor antagonists given prophylactically

Waiting until nausea occurs to treat it

Avoiding all liquids during chemotherapy

16. A 45-year-old woman with breast cancer asks about hormone receptor status. Why is this information clinically important?

It determines if she can become pregnant

It guides treatment with hormone therapy or HER2-targeted drugs

It predicts survival independent of stage

It eliminates the need for chemotherapy

17. Which chemotherapy agent is known for causing peripheral neuropathy as a dose-limiting toxicity?

5-Fluorouracil

Taxanes (paclitaxel, docetaxel)

Doxorubicin

Methotrexate

18. A patient receiving radiation therapy to the chest reports difficulty swallowing and mouth sores. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Radiation esophagitis and mucositis

Allergic reaction to treatment

Bacterial infection only

Dehydration from poor fluid intake

19. Which tumor marker is most specific for prostate cancer screening?

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)

Cancer antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9)

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)

Oncology Quiz: Can You Care for the Cancer Patient?