Chronic Illness: Cancer

Question 1

Identify some of the strategies taught to children with cancer to help them cope.

Answer 1

Strategies such as acceptance, cognitive reappraisal, and positive methods of cognitive and behavioural distraction help children to cope with their cancer and to adapt to the stress of their cancer.

Question 2

Which of the following is not a phase associated with cancer:
a.
Diagnosis
b.
Survivorship
c.
Active treatment
d.
Preclinical

Answer 2

d.

Preclinical

Question 3

What are some common feelings a person might experience after receiving a cancer diagnosis?

Answer 3

Shock, encounter and retreat

Question 4

Identify some of the key barriers that lead to poor adherence to cancer screening programs.

Answer 4

Anticipated embarrassment, pain and fear of screening procedures are common reasons for not participating in screening programs.
Not surprisingly, fear of being diagnosed with cancer is a major deterrent.
Another barrier is perceiving oneself as too healthy to develop cancer.
A final barrier is discounting symptoms of cancer as unimportant.

Question 5

Typically, anxiety _____________ through the radiotherapy treatment cycle, but _____________ through chemotherapy treatment cycle.

Answer 5

initially peaks and then diminishes; continues to increase

Question 6

What are some advantages of providing people with genetic risk assessments for cancer?

Answer 6

Provision of genetic test result feedback has been found to promote greater understanding of the cancer risk and to enhance the personal salience of prevention recommendations.

Question 7

Discuss the impact of a cancer diagnosis on the family unit.

Answer 7

The family unit needs to provide both instrumental support (such as providing transport to medical appointments) as well as reassurance and psychosocial support to the cancer patient. This can lead to individuals in the family unit becoming more dependent on each other.

Question 8

Which of the following is one advantage of decision aids?
a
Decision aids help with processing information and weighing up different options
b.
Decision aids provide irrelevant information to help delay people in making a decision
c.
Decision aids tell people what decisions to make
d.
Decision aids provide information that helps to speed up the patient’s acceptance of their diagnosis

Answer 8

a.
Decision aids help with processing information and weighing up different options

Question 9

Which of the following is not a cause of sexual dysfunction in cancer patients?
a.
Cancer treatment
b.
Changes within the relationship between cancer patient and their partner
c.
Cancer-related psychological distress
d.
Good supportive care

Answer 9

d.
Good supportive care

Question 10

In what way is the dyadic coping model similar to Rolland’s family-focused model? Both models view coping:

Answer 10

occurs at both the individual and dyadic level, including the cancer patient and family members

Question 11

Some people report feeling distressed after the completion of active treatment for many reasons. Which of the following is not one of those reasons?
a.
A perceived increase in support networks
b.
Feelings of being abandoned by medical staff
c.
A fear of the cancer recurring
d.
Feelings of uncertainty about effectiveness of treatments

Answer 11

a.
A perceived increase in support networks

Question 12

Approximately 30% of breast cancer patients experience body image difficulties during survivorship. Discuss some reasons why this might be.

Answer 12

Treatment for breast cancer involves the removal of at least one breast, changing her physical appearance.
This procedure leaves the patient with a long scar across their chest, and often results in breast asymmetry.
These changes to the patient can negatively impact their identity, and thus, their body image.

Question 13

Which of the following is not an appropriate problem to be treated with music interventions in cancer survivors?
a.
Anxiety
b.
Depression
c.
Pain
d.
Body image disturbance

Answer 13

d.
Body image disturbance

Question 14

Which of the following is a treatment proven to help someone suffering from body image disturbance?
a.
Mindfulness-based stress reduction
b.
Music interventions
c.
Cognitive and behaviour interventions
d.
Pharmacological interventions

Answer 14

c.
Cognitive and behaviour interventions

Question 15

Which of the following is least associated with an increased risk of fear of recurrence?
a.
Feelings of helplessness/hopelessness
b.
Older cancer patient
c.
Low levels of perceived social support
d.
Avoidant coping style

Answer 15

b.
Older cancer patient