A patient has a strong family history of nonpolyposis colorectal cancer. What is the best advice the nurse can give to the patient?
1. Have predispositional genetic testing done to detect the presence of the genetic disorder even though the patient may never develop cancer.
2. Teach the patient the symptoms of colon cancer and suggest a high-fiber diet to prevent cancer.
3. Have regular colonoscopies; if one is abnormal, then predispositional genetic testing is indicated.
4. Have predispositional genetic testing done to detect the presence of colorectal cancer so that treatment can be initiated as early as possible.
Correct Answer: 1
The patient should be advised to have a predispositional test to detect the presence of the genetic mutation that causes nonpolyposis colorectal cancer. Teaching the patient the symptoms of colon cancer and suggesting a high-fiber diet to prevent cancer are important pieces of advice, but not the best advice for this patient at this time. In this case, genetic testing is indicated. Therapy would only be started if the cancer were present.
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