A patient's carcinoembryonic antigen level was initially 16 ...

[P68T]

A patient's carcinoembryonic antigen level was initially 16 ng/mL. The level is currently 6 ng/mL. What does the nurse realize this decreased level indicates for the patient?
 
  1. The patient's treatment for cancer is effective.
  2. The patient's treatment for cancer is not effective.
  3. The patient has a new site of cancer.
  4. The patient's cancer has metastasized.

Question 2

The nurse is explaining the different types of chemotherapy to a patient recently diagnosed with cancer. Which statement would be incorrect for the nurse to tell the patient?
 
  1. Antitumor antibiotics disrupt RNA replication and DNA transcription.
  2. The main hormones used in cancer therapy are the corticosteroids, which are phase-specific.
  3. Mitotic inhibitors are drugs that act to prevent cell division during the M phase.
  4. Alkylating agents basically act on preformed nucleic acids by creating defects in tumor DNA.

[ngr69]

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 1
The normal carcinoembryonic antigen level for a nonsmoker is 2.5 ng/mL and 5.0 ng/mL for a smoker. Cancer is diagnosed with a level greater than 12 ng/mL. A decrease in the level is an indication that treatment for cancer is effective. The value would increase if the treatment for cancer were not effective. This laboratory test cannot determine new sites of cancer or if the cancer has metastasized.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 1
Antitumor antibiotics disrupt DNA replication and RNA transcription, not the other way around. This is the statement that would be incorrect for the nurse to tell the patient. Hormones and hormone antagonists are one class of chemotherapeutic agents. The main hormones used in cancer therapy are the corticosteroids, which are phase specific. Mitotic inhibitors are drugs that act to prevent cell division during the M phase. Alkylating agents basically act on preformed nucleic acids by creating defects in tumor DNA.