Radiation Therapy Chapter 5 Exam
Questions with Complete Solutions
1. A subjective indication of a disease or a change in condition as perceived by the
patient is a ________.
a. sign
b. symptom
c. syndrome
d. screening - Answer-B
A symptom is a "subjective indication of a disease or a change in condition as perceived
by a patient." A sign is an objective finding by the examiner. A syndrome is a set of
signs and symptoms arising from a common cause.
p. 88
2. Making a fist and pounding gently onto the posterior abdomen, over a kidney area, is
an example of which of the following physician's exam?
a. Percussion
b. Auscultation
c. Palpation
d. Inspection - Answer-A
Percussion differs from palpation in that it is the act of striking or tapping the patient
gently. Pounding one's fist gently over one's kidney area would not produce pain. If that
patient has an underlying kidney infection, percussion could cause more severe pain.
p. 91
3. Which of the following is not considered one of the four senses?
a. Sight
b. Touch
c. Taste
d. Smell - Answer-C
The four senses are sight, touch, hearing, and smell. The sense of smell is one of the
most valuable tools in assessing a patient. Examples related to smell consist of breath,
sputum, vomitus, feces, urine, and pus.
pp. 90-91
4. The chance of developing invasive breast cancer at some time in a woman's life is
approximately 1 out of every ______ women.
a. 5
b. 7
c. 8
d. 10 - Answer-C
, Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, except for skin
cancer. The chance of developing invasive breast cancer at some time in a woman's life
is 1 in 8 (20%).
p. 98
5. Which of the following is a normal white blood count?
a. 3.9 to 5.4 million/mm3
b. 3,900 to 10,800/mm3
c. 12 to 16 million/mm3
d. 150,000 to 425.000/mm3 - Answer-B
Normal ranges for white blood cells are 3,900 to 10,800/mm3.
p. 101, table 5-8
6. Examples of facilitating verbal responses include all except which of the following?
a. "I understand."
b. "This is just part of the aging process."
c. "How much did it hurt?"
d. "I see you are very angry." - Answer-B
Some of the verbal responses that can facilitate the interview are minimal responses,
reflecting feelings, and seeking clarification. Responses that may hinder the interview
are the use of social clichés, imposition of the interviewer's own values, and devaluing
or minimizing the patient's feelings or responses. In addition, the interviewer should
present himself or herself as unhurried, interested, and sympathetic to the patient.
p. 90, table 5-2
7. In the TNM staging system, what does the "T" indicate?
a. Metastases
b. Nodal status
c. Primary tumor
d. Grade of the tumor - Answer-C
In the TNM clinical classification (Table 5-10), T indicates the primary tumor, size, and
extent; N indicates the involved region lymph nodes that are assessable; and M
indicates distant metastasis.
p. 103, table 5-9
8. What was the leading site of new cancer cases in females in 2013?
a. Lung
b. Colon
c. Cervix
d. Breast - Answer-D
Questions with Complete Solutions
1. A subjective indication of a disease or a change in condition as perceived by the
patient is a ________.
a. sign
b. symptom
c. syndrome
d. screening - Answer-B
A symptom is a "subjective indication of a disease or a change in condition as perceived
by a patient." A sign is an objective finding by the examiner. A syndrome is a set of
signs and symptoms arising from a common cause.
p. 88
2. Making a fist and pounding gently onto the posterior abdomen, over a kidney area, is
an example of which of the following physician's exam?
a. Percussion
b. Auscultation
c. Palpation
d. Inspection - Answer-A
Percussion differs from palpation in that it is the act of striking or tapping the patient
gently. Pounding one's fist gently over one's kidney area would not produce pain. If that
patient has an underlying kidney infection, percussion could cause more severe pain.
p. 91
3. Which of the following is not considered one of the four senses?
a. Sight
b. Touch
c. Taste
d. Smell - Answer-C
The four senses are sight, touch, hearing, and smell. The sense of smell is one of the
most valuable tools in assessing a patient. Examples related to smell consist of breath,
sputum, vomitus, feces, urine, and pus.
pp. 90-91
4. The chance of developing invasive breast cancer at some time in a woman's life is
approximately 1 out of every ______ women.
a. 5
b. 7
c. 8
d. 10 - Answer-C
, Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, except for skin
cancer. The chance of developing invasive breast cancer at some time in a woman's life
is 1 in 8 (20%).
p. 98
5. Which of the following is a normal white blood count?
a. 3.9 to 5.4 million/mm3
b. 3,900 to 10,800/mm3
c. 12 to 16 million/mm3
d. 150,000 to 425.000/mm3 - Answer-B
Normal ranges for white blood cells are 3,900 to 10,800/mm3.
p. 101, table 5-8
6. Examples of facilitating verbal responses include all except which of the following?
a. "I understand."
b. "This is just part of the aging process."
c. "How much did it hurt?"
d. "I see you are very angry." - Answer-B
Some of the verbal responses that can facilitate the interview are minimal responses,
reflecting feelings, and seeking clarification. Responses that may hinder the interview
are the use of social clichés, imposition of the interviewer's own values, and devaluing
or minimizing the patient's feelings or responses. In addition, the interviewer should
present himself or herself as unhurried, interested, and sympathetic to the patient.
p. 90, table 5-2
7. In the TNM staging system, what does the "T" indicate?
a. Metastases
b. Nodal status
c. Primary tumor
d. Grade of the tumor - Answer-C
In the TNM clinical classification (Table 5-10), T indicates the primary tumor, size, and
extent; N indicates the involved region lymph nodes that are assessable; and M
indicates distant metastasis.
p. 103, table 5-9
8. What was the leading site of new cancer cases in females in 2013?
a. Lung
b. Colon
c. Cervix
d. Breast - Answer-D
