Question

A highway construction worker is concerned about her cancer risks. She has been married for 18 years, has two children, smokes one pack of cigarettes a day, and drinks one to two beers each week. She is 30 lbs overweight, eats fast food often, and rarely eats fresh fruits and vegetables. Her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer 2 years ago. Her father and and aunt both died of lung cancer. She had a basal cell carcinoma removed from her cheek 3 years earlier. Which of the following changes does the nurse encourage this patient to make to decrease her cancer risk (Select all that apply)?

a) Quit smoking
b) Increase alcohol consumption
c) Maintain current weight
d) Increase fast-food consumption
e) Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables

Answer 1

The nurse would encourage the patient to quit smoking, eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and maintain a healthy weight to decrease her cancer risk.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse would encourage the patient to make the following changes to decrease her cancer risk:

• Quit smoking: Smoking is a major risk factor for various types of cancer, including lung, head, neck, bladder, and more.
• Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables: Fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants, phytochemicals, and fiber that help reduce the risk of developing cancer.
• Maintain current weight: Being overweight or obese increases the risk of several types of cancer, so maintaining a healthy weight is important.