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The nurse has just completed a presentation to a group of senior citizens regarding health promotion and screening activities for the detection of cancer. The nurse realizes further teaching is necessary when a participant identifies a definitive test is available for which type of cancer?

User Haedrian
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Final answer:

Further teaching is necessary if a participant believes a definitive test is available for all types of cancers. Screening can suggest the presence of cancer, but a definitive diagnosis generally requires a biopsy. The effectiveness and appropriateness of screening can vary and remains somewhat controversial.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse would realize that further teaching is necessary if a participant identifies that a definitive test is available for a type of cancer for which no such test exists. Screening activities for cancer detection aim to identify cancers at an early stage in asymptomatic individuals, through methods such as medical imaging, blood tests, or physical examinations.

However, a definitive diagnosis of cancer often requires a biopsy, in which a tissue sample is examined microscopically. It is important to recognize that screening tests like mammograms, PSA tests, and colonoscopies can suggest the possibility of cancer but are not definitive; they indicate the need for further investigation, which may include a biopsy.

Some types of cancer, such as skin cancer, could be detected through visual inspection, but no single test can definitively diagnose all kinds of cancers. Furthermore, routine screening can be controversial due to the associated risks, such as false positives and excessive radiation, and the potential benefits need to be weighed against these risks.

User Javier Vidal
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