A jaundiced client has just been diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer. The nurse anticipates the client will display which clinical manifestation?
Clay-colored stools
Hematuria
Pale dilute urine
Weight gain
The Correct Answer is A
A. Stage IV pancreatic cancer often leads to bile duct obstruction, causing decreased bile flow into the intestines. This results in clay-colored stools due to the absence of bile pigments.
B. Hematuria, or blood in the urine, is not a common symptom of pancreatic cancer, even in advanced stages. It is more associated with conditions affecting the urinary system.
C. Jaundice causes dark, concentrated urine rather than pale, dilute urine due to the accumulation of bilirubin in the bloodstream, which is excreted through the kidneys.
D. Weight loss, rather than weight gain, is a common manifestation in clients with advanced pancreatic cancer due to malabsorption and cachexia.
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Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. While limiting emesis is important in cancer treatment, combination chemotherapy primarily focuses on improving efficacy and minimizing toxicities, not specifically targeting nausea and vomiting episodes.
B. Combination chemotherapy can actually increase the risk of neutropenia due to the cumulative effects of multiple agents, as each may independently lower white blood cell counts.
C. Decreasing time intervals between remission is not a primary goal of combination chemotherapy; rather, it aims to achieve better overall treatment outcomes.
D. The main rationale for using combination chemotherapy is to broaden the range of cancer cell kill through different mechanisms of action while minimizing the side effects associated with higher doses of a single agent. This approach can improve treatment efficacy and reduce the likelihood of resistance.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Stomatitis is a common side effect of radiation therapy for oral cancer, and while it requires management, it is not immediately life-threatening.
B. Stridor indicates potential airway obstruction, which is a critical and urgent condition that requires immediate intervention, making it the greatest concern among the options presented.
C. Nausea is a typical side effect of cancer treatment but is usually manageable and not considered an immediate threat.
D. Xerostomia, or dry mouth, is another common side effect of radiation to the head and neck, but it is not as urgent as the risk of airway compromise indicated by stridor.