A nurse is planning a community health program about screening for cancer. What information recommended by the American Cancer Society (ACS) should the nurse include?

Appeared in: ISRO 2024

Explanation

The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends regular screening for colorectal cancer for individuals at average risk.
One of the recommended screening methods is a yearly stool-based test, such as the fecal occult blood test (FOBT) or fecal immunochemical test (FIT).
While the ACS has recently updated its guideline to recommend starting screening at age 45, the long-standing recommendation was to begin at age 50.
Among the given choices, this option is the most accurate representation of an established ACS screening guideline.

Option A: The ACS does not recommend annual mammography starting at age 35 for average-risk women.
Option C: The ACS no longer recommends routine monthly breast self-examination (BSE) as a formal screening method.
Option D: The ACS recommends starting the discussion about prostate cancer screening at age 50 for average-risk men, not age 40.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing American Cancer Society (ACS) cancer screening guidelines helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nurses play a crucial role in public health education by providing accurate, up-to-date information on cancer screening, which is essential for early detection and improved outcomes.
It is vital for nurses to conduct individual risk assessments to identify patients who may need earlier or more frequent screening than recommended for the general population.
Nurses must be prepared to discuss and address patient barriers to screening, which can include fear, cost, lack of access, or cultural beliefs.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question, which is to select the correct cancer screening recommendation according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).
This is a factual recall question. You need to access your knowledge of established public health guidelines.
Evaluate each option against the ACS guidelines for the specific cancer type, age, and screening method.
Option A: Recall that mammograms for average-risk women do not start at 35.
Option C: Recall that routine BSE is no longer recommended.
Option D: Recall that prostate screening discussions for average-risk men start at 50, not 40.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: American Cancer Society (ACS) cancer screening guidelines
Stem keywords: community health program, screening for cancer, American Cancer Society (ACS)
Lead-in keywords: What information
Clinical cues: The care setting changes urgency, monitoring level, and the expected nursing action.
Negative lead-in flag: false

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E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 3 p. 62-64

E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 1 pp. 556-558, 557-559

Practise the full ISRO 2024

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.