Purposes of administering Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) in cases of bladder cancer are all EXCEPT

RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2024

Pharmacology

Medium

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2024

Explanation

The correct answer identifies the statement that is not a purpose of BCG therapy.
BCG works by causing a strong inflammatory reaction in the bladder to stimulate the immune system against cancer cells.
This inflammation often irritates the bladder lining, making hematuria (bleeding) a common and expected side effect, not something the therapy prevents.
Therefore, the statement 'Prevents bleeding' is incorrect and the exception among the options.

Option A: This is a primary purpose of BCG. The therapy stimulates an immune response that directly attacks and destroys tumor cells.
Option C: This is one of the main goals of BCG therapy. It is highly effective in reducing the rate of recurrence for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.
Option D: This statement accurately describes the classification of BCG. It is a form of immunotherapy that uses the body's own immune system to fight cancer.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Pharmacology and Oncology Nursing: Understanding the mechanism, purpose, and side effects of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy for bladder cancer as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
A nurse's primary role is patient education. It is crucial to inform patients that seeing some blood in their urine after BCG treatment can be normal, which helps manage anxiety and prevents unnecessary emergency calls. However, they must also be taught to report heavy bleeding.
Nurses must handle the patient's urine as a biohazard for at least 6 hours post-treatment, as it contains live attenuated mycobacteria. This involves teaching the patient to add bleach to the toilet after voiding to prevent transmission.
What if? If a patient calls reporting a fever of 39°C (102.2°F) and severe chills the day after BCG treatment, the nurse should instruct the patient to seek immediate medical attention. This is not a normal local side effect and could indicate a dangerous systemic BCG infection, a medical emergency.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the keywords in the question stem: 'BCG', 'bladder cancer', and especially the negative keyword 'EXCEPT'.
The word 'EXCEPT' means you must find the option that is FALSE or does not belong with the others.
Review each option's relationship to BCG therapy for bladder cancer.
Think about the mechanism of BCG. It's a live attenuated bacterium used to provoke an immune response. An inflammatory response is its goal.
Evaluate Option A: Does inflammation cause antitumor activity? Yes. This is likely a correct purpose.
Evaluate Option C: Is a major goal of cancer therapy to prevent recurrence? Yes. This is likely a correct purpose.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Pharmacology and Oncology Nursing: Understanding the mechanism, purpose, and side effects of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy for bladder cancer.
Stem keywords: Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG), bladder cancer, purposes
Lead-in keywords: EXCEPT
Negative lead-in flag: The question uses the word 'EXCEPT', asking to identify the option that is NOT a purpose of BCG therapy.

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E6 Pathology- ROBBINS & COTRAN PATHOLOGIC BASIS OF DISEASE 10TH Ed p. 961-963

E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 1 pp. 733-735, 602-604