A nurse cares for a client who has a family history of colon cancer. The client states, "My father and my brother had colon cancer. What is the chance that I will get cancer?" How should the nurse respond?

Question

a. "If you eat a low-fat and low-fiber diet, your chances decrease significantly."
b. "You are safe. This is an autosomal dominant disorder that skips generations."
c. "Preemptive surgery and chemotherapy will remove cancer cells and prevent cancer."
d. "You should have a colonoscopy more frequently to identify abnormal polyps early."

Answer 1

ANS: D
The nurse should encourage the client to have frequent colonoscopies to identify abnormal polyps and cancerous cells early. The abnormal gene associated with colon cancer is an autosomal dominant gene mutation that does not skip a generation and places the client at high risk for cancer. Changing the client's diet, preemptive chemotherapy, and removal of polyps will decrease the client's risk but will not prevent cancer. However, a client at risk for colon cancer should eat a low-fat and high-fiber diet.