Chapter 14 Antineoplastic Agents

Chapter 14  Antineoplastic Agents

Complete Chapter Questions And Answers
 

Sample Questions

1.
The process of cancerous cells exhibiting a loss of cellular differentiation and organization leading to a loss of their ability to function normally is called what?
A)
Anaplasia
B)
Angiogenesis
C)
Autonomy
D)
Metastasis
Ans:
A

Feedback:

Cancerous cells exhibit anaplasia, which is a loss of cellular differentiation and organization that leads to a loss of their ability to function normally. Angiogenesis refers to the abnormal cells releasing enzymes that generate blood vessels in the area to supply both oxygen and nutrients to the cells. Cancerous cells exhibit autonomy, which is the ability to grow without the usual homeostatic restrictions that regulate cell growth and control. Metastasis is the process of the cancerous cells traveling from the place of origin to develop new tumors.

2.
The mitotic inhibitors interfere with the ability of a cell to divide and they block or alter deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis, thus causing cell death. What is important for the nurse to remember when administering these drugs?
A)
The nurse should encourage the patient to eat six small meals a day.
B)
The nurse should avoid any skin, eye, or mucous membrane contact with the drug.
C)
The nurse should avoid using a distal vein.
D)
The nurse should check for extravasation when the infusion is over.
Ans:
B

Feedback:

Special care needs to be taken when administering these drugs. The nurse should avoid any skin, eye, or mucous membrane contact with the drug. This type of contact can cause serious reactions and toxicity for the nurse. The nurse should check for extravasation frequently during the infusion and not wait until the infusion is completed, a distal vein should be used, nausea and vomiting are commonly experienced adverse effects of these drugs, and small meals may help the patient to maintain adequate nutrition but this is not the important concern when administering the drug.

3.
A nurse is preparing an antineoplastic agent for a 9-year-old cancer patient. Before administering an antineoplastic agent, what is the nurse’s priority action?
A)
Wash his or her hands.
B)
Identify the child by checking the arm band and asking him or her to state his or her name.
C)
Ensure a quiet environment so the patient can sleep during administration of the drug.
D)
Check laboratory studies to determine most recent measures of bone marrow function.
Ans:
D

Feedback:

The most important action of the nurse before administering the drug would be to check indexes of bone marrow functioning because these results will help to determine the proper dosage. Smaller dosages are administered if bone marrow function declines, whereas larger dosages can be given if bone marrow function is good. Only after this is checked will the nurse begin the process of actually administering the medication by performing hand hygiene, identifying the patient, and creating a quiet environment.

4.
A patient with leukemia receives rasburicase (Elitek) before administering chemotherapy. What is the nurse’s priority assessment after administration of this medication?
A)
Blood glucose levels
B)
Serum potassium levels
C)
Serum calcium levels
D)
Uric acid levels
Ans:
D

Feedback:

Rasburicase is approved for the management of plasma uric acid levels in patients with leukemia, lymphoma, and solid malignancies who are receiving antineoplastic therapy associated with tumor lysis and elevated serum uric acid levels. Uric acid levels should be analyzed within 4 hours of each dose of rasburicase. Blood glucose, potassium, and calcium levels should not be affected by administration of the drug.

5.
The nurse is caring for a patient at risk of severe-to-fatal interstitial lung disease. What antineoplastic agent is the nurse administering that carries this risk?
A)
Valrubicin (Valstar)
B)
Erlotinib (Tarceva)
C)
Histrelin acetate (Vantas)
D)
Triptorelin pamoate (Trelstar Depot)
Ans:
B

Feedback:

Erlotinib inhibits tyrosine kinase associated with epidermal growth factor found on surfaces of normal and cancer cells and causes serious-to-fatal interstitial lung disease. Histrelin inhibits gonadotropic secretion and decreases follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone levels and suppresses testosterone production. Hot flashes are very common with this drug. Triptorelin pamoate decreases FSH and LH levels and also suppresses testosterone production. It has also been associated with sexual dysfunction, urinary tract symptoms, bone pain, and hot flashes. Valrubicin is used in intravesical therapy for carcinoma in situ of the bladder. It is also associated with severe bladder spasms.