Transmission of cancer is by

NCL (MP) Nursing Officer - 2020

Medical & Surgical Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: NCL (MP) Nursing Officer - 2020

Explanation

Cancer is a non-communicable disease, meaning it cannot be transmitted from one person to another through casual contact or common vectors like air, water, or food.
The options provided (blood products, food/water, air) are classic routes for infectious diseases caused by pathogens, not for the transmission of malignant cells between individuals.
While some viruses that increase cancer risk (e.g., HPV, HBV) are transmissible, the cancer itself is not.
Therefore, 'None of the above' is the correct choice as cancer transmission does not occur via these methods.

Option A: This is incorrect because the recipient's immune system typically identifies and destroys foreign cancer cells. While extremely rare cases have been documented in organ transplants (donor-derived cancer), it is not a recognized mode of transmission for blood products.
Option B: This is a route for pathogens like bacteria and viruses (e.g., Cholera, Hepatitis A), not cancer cells. While some infections (like H. pylori) can increase cancer risk, they transmit the pathogen, not the cancer itself.
Option C: This route is for respiratory pathogens like influenza or tuberculosis. Cancer cells are not aerosolized and transmitted through the air.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Modes of disease transmission and the non-communicable nature of cancer as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses must educate patients and families that cancer is not contagious to reduce fear, stigma, and social isolation. Standard precautions are sufficient for routine care.
It is crucial to differentiate between caring for a patient with cancer and caring for an immunocompromised cancer patient, who may require reverse isolation to be protected from infections.
What if the patient has HPV-related cervical cancer? The nurse should understand that while the HPV virus is transmissible via sexual contact, the cancer itself is not. The focus remains on standard precautions for patient care and educating about HPV prevention (vaccination) for public health.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core concept of the question: How is cancer transmitted?
Recall the fundamental definition of cancer. It is a disease of uncontrolled cell growth originating from an individual's own cells (a non-communicable disease).
Evaluate each option as a potential mode of disease transmission.
Recognize that 'Blood product', 'Infected food and water', and 'Air born' are all classic transmission routes for infectious or communicable diseases caused by pathogens like viruses and bacteria.
Since cancer is not an infectious disease in the conventional sense, these routes are incorrect.
Conclude that 'None of the above' is the only logical answer, as cancer does not spread between people in these ways.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Modes of disease transmission and the non-communicable nature of cancer.
Stem keywords: Transmission, cancer
Lead-in keywords: is by
Negative lead-in flag: false

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