Female Cancers Practice Questions

1. The student nurse is caring for a 42 year old female who had a right mastectomy 2 days
ago. Which action by the student nurse requires intervention by the nurse?

The student nurse performs a venipuncture in the left arm.

The student nurse elevates the right arm on one pillow

The student nurse aids in patient performance of isometric exercises.

The student nurse obtains blood pressure on the right arm

2. Which statement made by the nurse reflects an accurate understanding concerning the
effect of age on breast cancer patients?

The five year survival rate decreases dramatically each year over the age of 60.

Breast cancer treatment is often similar for the older patient as with the younger
patient.

Older women are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer in earlier stages
because they receive more mammograms.

Instances of breast cancer is not related to age in any way.

3. The nurse is caring for a patient with a recent bilateral mastectomy. The nurse provides
care for the patient based on which psychosocial impact breast cancer diagnosis and
mastectomy can have on the patient.

There is a high risk for suicidal ideation immediately following a mastectomy.

Most of the time patients will have to be on an antidepressant for some time
following mastectomy.

Not being able to perform self-care is the most frustrating challenge the patient
must face following a bilateral mastectomy.

The patient may often have feelings of anger, fear, anxiety or depression.

4. The nurse is caring for a breast cancer patient. The nurse knows the main complication
of breast cancer is what?

Recurrence

Metastasis

Risk for infection

Lymphedema

5. The nurse is teaching the patient how to perform a breast self-examination. Which
statement by the patient reflects understanding of the teaching?

I will be sure to perform the self-exam following the first day of my period.

Because I take oral contraceptives, an easy way to remember to perform by

breast self-exam would be to do it the first day of each new pack I start.

I will lie down and place my left arm firmly to my side and palpate my left
breast with my right hand using the pads of my three middle fingers.

I will only use light pressure when palpating my breast to be sure not to damage
my breast tissue.

6. During a routine health examination, a 28 year old female patient states never doing a
breast self-examination. The nurse should explain that a breast self-examination should
be done when?

A breast self-examination should be done every month and on the 7th day after the
start of the menstrual cycle.

A breast self-examination should be done every month a week before the start of
the menstrual cycle.

A breast self-examination should be done every month a week after the end of the
menstrual cycle.

A breast self-examination should be done every three months and on the 7th day
after the start of the menstrual cycle.

7. You are seeing a 42 year old female patient who is postmenopausal and has concerns
about a multicolored, sticky nipple discharge and said that she has burning, itching, and
pain around the nipple as well as a swelled areolar. You would suspect which of the
follow?
a. Fibroadenoma
b. lactational breast abscess
c. Mastalgia
d. Ductal ectasia

8. The nurse notes that which of the clients is at increased risk for developing cervical
cancer? Select all that applies
A. A client who smokes
B. A client who previously took Gardasil
C. A client who became sexually active at the age of 15
D. A client whose sister was diagnosed with breast cancer
E. A client taking oral contraceptives
9. A 34 year old patient presents to the clinic for her yearly gynological exam, upon
assessing the patient she complains of unusual spotting for the last four months, mild gas,
constipation, abdominal distention, nausea, and a sensation of pelvic fullness. What
diagnostic study does the nurse suspect will be ordered for this patient. Select all that
apply.
A. Abdominal Ultrasound
B. Biopsy
C. HPV test
D. PAP
E. Transvaginal Ultrasound

10. A patient come in and has recently been diagnosed with cervical cancer in the early
stages. Which of the following clinical manifestations would you particularly see in a
patient during the early stages of cervical cancer? SATA.
1. leukorrhea
2. intermenstraul bleeding
3. heavy and frequent vaginal bleeding
4. pain
5. tumor enlargement
6. pt is asymptomati
11. A nurse is preparing a woman for a biopsy of a lump in the right breast, the patient
asks the nurse. What is the difference between a benign tumor and malignant tumor?
What statement by the nurse is most appropriate?
a. benign tumors spread and malignant tumors dont
b. benign tumors do not spread, and malignant tumors do

c. Malignant tumors are usually in situ

d. benign tumors are more likely to reoccur
12. A female comes to the clinic asking about ways to reduce the development of ovarian
cancer what would be the best response from the nurse? SATA
A) Breastfeeding
B) Early age of birth of first child
C) oral contraceptives
D) nulliparty
E) chances lower with age
13.The nurse is teaching a group of women about the risk factors of female reproductive
cancers. In her teaching, she identifies the risk factors for ovarian cancer include: (Select
all that apply)
Age

Use of Oral Contraceptives (more than 5 years)

Multiple Pregnancies

Nulliparity

Hormone Therapy

14. When teaching a group of women about different cancers of the reproductive system,
the nurse should include which of the following actions as risk factors for developing
endometrial cancer? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY
A. Increasing age
B. Smoking
C. Late menopause
D. Diabetes Mellitus
E. Oral contraceptives

15. During the breast exam, the nurse asks the client to raise her arms over her head. Why
did the nurse change the client's position?
a. Skin dimpling is accented in this position.
b. The nurse couldn't palpate the axillae correctly.
c. The client has small breasts.
d. The client has large breasts.

16. Which of the following clients in the clinic most likely would be diagnosed with
cervical cancer?

1. A 19 year old with low socioeconomic status who hasn't had a Pap test.
2. A 34 year old who hasn't had a Pap test in 7 years and who has bleeding between
periods.
3. A 22 year old that smokes and who is getting her first Pap test.
4. A 27 year old who started menarche at 10 years old and who started having sex at 18.
17. What age should testing start for cervical cancer?
1. The start of menarche
2. Age 21
3. Age 25-29
4. Post menopausal
18. The nurse is speaking with a 55 year old client recently diagnosed with ovarian
cancer. The client is showing signs of confusion regarding her condition. The health care
provider made it unclear to the patient why being a nulliparous female increases the risk
of developing ovarian cancer. Which of the following explanations would the nurse use to
educate the client about this risk?
A. Nulliparous woman haven't had as many sexual partners
B. Nulliparous woman have had a greater exposure to estrogen, because they haven't had
the period of fluctuation that comes with pregnancy.
C. The health care provider was incorrect; nulliparity is not related to an increased risk
for cervical cancer.
D. Nulliparous women are likely to early menarche and late menopause

19. The nurse is teaching a client about the risk factors associated with breast cancer in
women. The nurse determines that further teaching in necessary when the client identifies
which item as an associated risk factor?
A. Family history
B. Age 45 and older
C. Early menarche
D. Late menopause

20. A nurse is discussing with a patient diagnosed with endometrial cancer the usual
places that the cancer could possibly metastasize. Select all that apply.
A. Lung
B. Bone

C. Kidney
D. Liver
E. Brain

21. The nurse knows which of the following clients have the highest risk of developing
endometrial cancer:
A. 35 year old female with three children under 6 years of age.
B. 70 year old female with no children
C. 26 year old female who went through menarche at age 14
D. A 44 year old female going through menopause.
22. A 34 year old woman with estrogen receptor positive breast cancer is prescribed
Tamoxifen. Which of the following would the nurse anticipate teaching to the patient?

Tamoxifen can cause symptoms of menopause.

Tamoxifen can cause increased visual acuity.

Shortness of breath, leg cramps, and weakness are expected side effects of
Tamoxifen.

Tamoxifen will decrease the risk of blood clots.

23. When the Nurse is doing preop teaching , to meet the psychological needs of a
women scheduled for a modified radical mastectomy , you should:
A.) discuss limitation
B.) schedule for a follow up appt.
C.) promote an environment to allow expression of feelings.
D.) have significant other there while providing teaching.
24. A patient has been recently told that they are high risk for developing breast cancer.
As a nurse, which modifiable risk factors are appropriate to teach the patient? (select all
that apply)
a) Food that decrease weight
b) Resources to help stop smoking

c) Drinking 3-4 alcoholic beverages/day is okay

d) Ways to incorporate exercise into daily routine
e) Discussing different options of hormonal therapy
25. A patient had cancer of the vulva and received a vulvectomy. What signs and
symptoms should the nurse teach the patient to report to the provider? Select all that
apply:
A. Unusual odor
B. Fresh Bleeding
C. Decreased estrogen level
D. Breakdown of incision
E. BP of 110/70
F. Severe perineal pain
26. A patient has been told they have stage II cervical cancer she ask the nurse what
treatment options are available (select all that apply)
1. Laser Surgery
2. Radiation
3. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy
4. Cervical conization
5. Radical Hysterectomy
27. The nurse is conducting a seminar on female cancers at the local library. When an
audience member asks about risk factors for endometrial cancer the nurse is sure to
include which of the following: (select all that apply)
A. Unopposed estrogen
B. Having multiple children
C. Diabetes Mellitus
D. Illicit drug use
E. Smoking
F. Pregnancy