After teaching a client with a spinal cord tumor, the nurse assesses the client's understanding. Which statements by the client indicate a correct understanding of the teaching? (Select all that apply.)
a. "Even though turning hurts, I will remind you to turn me every 2 hours."
b. "Radiation therapy can shrink the tumor but also can cause more problems."
c. "Surgery will be scheduled to remove the tumor and reverse my symptoms."
d. "I put my affairs in order because this type of cancer is almost always fatal."
e. "My family is moving my bedroom downstairs for when I am discharged home."
ANS: A, B, E
Although surgery may relieve symptoms by reducing pressure on the spine and debulking the tumor, some motor and sensory deficits may remain. Spinal tumors usually cause disability but are not usually fatal. Radiation therapy is often used to shrink spinal tumors but can cause progressive spinal cord degeneration and neurologic deficits. The client should be turned every 2 hours to prevent skin breakdown and arrangements should be made at home so that the client can complete activities of daily living without needing to go up and down stairs.
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