Survivorship Care and Long-Term Monitoring Practice Questions
18 free Survivorship Care and Long-Term Monitoring practice questions for the NCLEX Exam. Tap an option to answer — you get instant feedback, the correct answer, and a detailed explanation for every question.
What key element should be included in a survivorship care plan for a cancer survivor?
- A Only the original date of cancer diagnosis
- B A treatment summary, recommended follow-up tests, and who provides ongoing care
- C An itemised record of the cost of all past treatments
- D A formal guarantee that the cancer will never recur
Correct answer: A treatment summary, recommended follow-up tests, and who provides ongoing care
Survivorship care plans include treatment summary plus recommendations for follow-up tests and care responsibilities to guide long-term monitoring.
Which of the following best describes the rationale for long-term monitoring in survivors of childhood cancer?
- A Late effects are never seen in childhood cancer survivors
- B Late effects can emerge years later, so ongoing screening is essential
- C Routine monitoring can safely stop two years after treatment ends
- D An annual physical with no special testing is fully sufficient
Correct answer: Late effects can emerge years later, so ongoing screening is essential
Survivors of childhood/adolescent cancers are at risk of late effects long after therapy thus need long-term surveillance.
Which provider is commonly involved in long-term survivorship care alongside the specialist?
- A Only the oncologist, who manages care indefinitely
- B A primary care provider coordinating follow-up, lifestyle advice, and screening
- C A dentist managing the survivor's overall follow-up care
- D A pharmacist serving as the sole long-term care provider
Correct answer: A primary care provider coordinating follow-up, lifestyle advice, and screening
Primary care providers play a key role in survivorship care for monitoring, screening, and general health beyond specialist follow-up.
A survivor of colorectal cancer asks how frequently follow-up imaging should occur according to some guidelines. Which answer is correct?
- A Imaging follow-up is never recommended after treatment
- B Every 3 months for the first 2 years, then every 6 months (German S3 guideline, stage II/III)
- C A single imaging study only once every ten years
- D On an unscheduled basis, driven purely by patient preference
Correct answer: Every 3 months for the first 2 years, then every 6 months (German S3 guideline, stage II/III)
Certain guidelines (e.g., German S3) suggest structured imaging/testing intervals: e.g., every 3 months first 2 years, then every 6 months.
What is a major goal of long-term survivorship care beyond monitoring for recurrence?
- A Focusing exclusively on treating newly developed cancers
- B Managing late effects of treatment while promoting health and quality of life
- C Taking over and replacing all of the survivor's primary care
- D Ending every form of follow-up once five years have passed
Correct answer: Managing late effects of treatment while promoting health and quality of life
Survivorship care includes managing physical/psychosocial late-effects, promoting health behaviors and quality of life, not just recurrence surveillance.
Which symptom should a cancer survivor report because it may indicate a late effect of treatment?
- A Slight fatigue for one day
- B New shortness of breath, swelling, or chest pain
- C Normal seasonal allergies
- D Occasional mild headache
Correct answer: New shortness of breath, swelling, or chest pain
New cardiopulmonary symptoms may reflect late-effects of cancer treatment and should prompt assessment.
Many survivorship guidelines note an issue of “over-use” in monitoring. What does this refer to?
- A Too few surveillance tests are being performed overall
- B Continuing surveillance testing indefinitely without an evidence base
- C Relying solely on physical examination for surveillance
- D Discontinuing all monitoring after the first year
Correct answer: Continuing surveillance testing indefinitely without an evidence base
Research indicates ongoing indefinite testing may lead to over-use of resources/harm without benefit.
What lifestyle recommendation is commonly included in long-term survivorship care?
- A Avoiding all forms of physical exercise
- B Quit smoking, limit alcohol, stay active, and maintain a healthy weight
- C Disregarding diet as it has little long-term impact
- D Seeing only specialists and never a primary care provider
Correct answer: Quit smoking, limit alcohol, stay active, and maintain a healthy weight
Healthy lifestyle behaviors are part of survivorship care to reduce risk of recurrence, new cancers and late-effects.
Which documentation is essential for a survivor to bring to follow-up appointments?
- A An old prescription list and nothing further
- B A treatment summary and survivorship care plan with follow-up recommendations
- C Nothing, because the provider already holds all records
- D Only a written summary of the patient's social history
Correct answer: A treatment summary and survivorship care plan with follow-up recommendations
A treatment summary and care plan help coordinate care among providers and guide long-term monitoring.
For adult cancer survivors, what is the approximate timeline for frequency of follow-up visits recommended by the NCI?
- A Follow-up only once every ten years, indefinitely
- B Every 3-4 months for the first 2-3 years, then once or twice yearly
- C Follow-up arranged only when new symptoms appear
- D Weekly visits continuing for the rest of the patient's life
Correct answer: Every 3-4 months for the first 2-3 years, then once or twice yearly
According to NCI, many survivors are seen every 3-4 months for the first 2-3 years, then transition to less frequent visits.
Why is coordination of care important in survivorship?
- A Because care is simplest when one provider handles everything alone
- B Survivors often have complex needs and multiple providers, so coordination prevents gaps
- C Because coordination means only the oncologist should see the patient
- D Because coordination is needed only if the cancer recurs
Correct answer: Survivors often have complex needs and multiple providers, so coordination prevents gaps
Survivorship often involves long-term effects which require multiple disciplines; coordination ensures comprehensive, efficient care.
A 45-year-old survivor had chest radiation years ago. Which long-term monitoring/test would be appropriate?
- A No long-term cardiac monitoring is needed in this case
- B Periodic echocardiography for radiation-induced cardiomyopathy
- C An annual dental check-up as the only follow-up required
- D A brain MRI performed every month going forward
Correct answer: Periodic echocardiography for radiation-induced cardiomyopathy
Past chest radiation increases risk for late cardiac effects and periodic echocardiography may be warranted in long-term monitoring.
Survivorship care must also address psychosocial aspects. Which assertion is correct?
- A Emotional and psychological issues matter only in the first year
- B Anxiety, depression, pain, and fatigue can persist and need ongoing care
- C Only physical effects of treatment require any monitoring
- D Survivors should avoid discussing feelings in order to stay positive
Correct answer: Anxiety, depression, pain, and fatigue can persist and need ongoing care
Many survivors experience long-term psychosocial issues and guiding structured monitoring of these is part of care.
What is a key nursing role in long-term monitoring for survivors?
- A Performing only acute care assessments during visits
- B Teaching the follow-up plan and helping recognise signs of late effects
- C Deliberately avoiding any discussion about lifestyle changes
- D Stepping back and doing nothing once treatment ends
Correct answer: Teaching the follow-up plan and helping recognise signs of late effects
Nurses help survivors understand their plan, adhere to screening schedules, and recognize late-effect symptoms for earlier intervention.
Why is the concept of ‘late effect’ important in survivorship care?
- A Because all treatment effects appear immediately after therapy
- B Late effects can appear years later and may be prevented or reduced if monitored
- C Because late effects reliably resolve on their own without care
- D Because late effects are irrelevant to survivors who are disease-free
Correct answer: Late effects can appear years later and may be prevented or reduced if monitored
Long-term monitoring is needed because some treatment-related effects occur later, so vigilance is required.
Which statement correctly reflects resource/insurance challenges in survivorship monitoring?
- A Financial and insurance issues never affect cancer survivors
- B Cost can lead survivors to skip recommended monitoring, harming long-term health
- C Recommended monitoring is always provided to survivors free of charge
- D Cost is irrelevant because long-term survivor care is minimal
Correct answer: Cost can lead survivors to skip recommended monitoring, harming long-term health
Studies indicate survivors may forego recommended follow-up or treatment due to financial toxicity, compromising outcomes.
When should surveillance for secondary (new) cancers be considered in survivorship care?
- A Only once the survivor develops new symptoms
- B Never, unless the original cancer recurs first
- C Based on treatment history and risk, screening for second primaries should be planned
- D Only after twenty years have passed since treatment
Correct answer: Based on treatment history and risk, screening for second primaries should be planned
Survivorship guidelines emphasize screening for second primary cancers as part of long-term monitoring depending on treatments and exposures.
What outcome is realistic and important for long-term survivorship monitoring?
- A A complete guarantee that no late effects will ever occur
- B Early detection of treatable late effects while preserving quality of life
- C Removing the survivor's ongoing need for primary care
- D Avoiding all routine follow-up testing after treatment
Correct answer: Early detection of treatable late effects while preserving quality of life
The goal of survivorship care is early detection of late effects, maintenance of health and quality of life.