Pancreatic Cancer Quiz: Nursing Care Essentials

1. CA 19-9 is a tumor marker used for pancreatic cancer. What is its primary clinical use?

Screening asymptomatic populations

Monitoring treatment response and recurrence

Confirming diagnosis

Determining surgical candidacy

2. A patient with pancreatic cancer develops severe epigastric pain. Which nursing intervention should be prioritized?

Administer opioid analgesia and assess pain response

Encourage ambulation to reduce pain

Restrict fluid intake

Apply heat to the abdomen

3. A pancreatic cancer patient on chemotherapy develops severe nausea. What is the most appropriate nursing action?

Administer antiemetics before chemotherapy and monitor effectiveness

Restrict all food and fluids for 24 hours

Encourage high-fat meals

Position patient upright for 2 hours post-treatment

4. A patient post-Whipple procedure develops dumping syndrome. Which nursing intervention helps manage this?

Small, frequent meals with complex carbohydrates and protein

Large meals with simple sugars

Fluid intake with meals

Lying flat for 30 minutes after eating

5. Pancreatic cancer patients are at high risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Which preventive measure is most important?

Sequential compression devices and early mobilization

Bed rest for 2 weeks

Prolonged immobilization

High sodium diet

6. A patient with metastatic pancreatic cancer expresses hopelessness. Which nursing response is most therapeutic?

Listen actively, validate feelings, and explore coping strategies

Tell the patient to stay positive

Change the subject to avoid sadness

Minimize the patient's concerns

7. Pancreatic cancer frequently causes exocrine insufficiency. Which sign indicates this complication?

Steatorrhea and fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies

Hyperglycemia and polyuria

Elevated amylase levels

Hepatomegaly

8. Which surgical procedure involves removal of the pancreatic head, distal stomach, and duodenum?

Whipple procedure

Distal pancreatectomy

Total pancreatectomy

Pancreaticoduodenectomy

Submit

11. What is the most common histological type of pancreatic cancer?

Adenocarcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma

Neuroendocrine tumor

Sarcoma

12. Which of the following is the earliest sign of pancreatic head cancer?

Abdominal pain

Painless jaundice

Weight loss

Steatorrhea

13. FOLFIRINOX is a chemotherapy regimen for pancreatic cancer. Which drug is NOT part of this combination?

Fluorouracil

Irinotecan

Gemcitabine

Oxaliplatin

14. True or False: Pancreatic cancer has a five-year survival rate above 40% in most developed countries.

True

False

15. True or False: Prophylactic pancreatectomy is recommended for all BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation carriers.