A client had a positive Pap smear. The surgeon diagnosed "cancer in situ of the cervix." The client asks, "What does this mean?" From the following statements, which is most appropriate in response to this question? The tumor has:

Question

A) Been walled off within a strong fibrous capsule
B) Developed a distant infiltration
C) Not crossed the basement membrane, so it can be surgically removed with little chance of growing back
D) Grown undifferentiated cells that no longer look like the tissue from which it arose

Answer 1

Ans: C
Feedback:
Cancer in situ is a localized preinvasive lesion. As an example, in breast ductal carcinoma, in situ the cells have not crossed the basement membrane. Depending on its location, an in situ lesion usually can be removed surgically or treated so that the chances of recurrence are small. For example, cancer in situ of the cervix is essentially 100% curable.