Free ONCC Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner Questions and Answers

Question 1

Which of the following cancers is the leading killer worldwide?

Accepted Answer

Lung

Answer

Explanation:
The three cancers that lead to the most deaths globally are lung (19.4%), colorectal (9%), and stomach (8.3%). The industrialized countries account for the highest rates while the lowest rates tend to be in northern Africa and southern and eastern Asia. Worldwide cancer rates are expected to increase in the near term because of aging populations and unhealthy lifestyles such as smoking and probably obesity. Tobacco use alone is responsible for 480,000 deaths per year in the U.S, according to the CDC in 2020. Although cancer rates (usually expressed as a number per 100,000 population) in the United States have declined somewhat, there has been a drastic increase in liver cancer from 2000 to 2016, according to the CDC.

Question 2

Which of the following cancer types has decreased the most in incidence during the previous decade?

Accepted Answer

Prostate

Answer

Explanation:
Overall cancer incidence has declined somewhat in men (1.5%) and has stabilized for women. Prostate cancer has declined the most in recent years; there are about 3% fewer cases per year. The incidence of liver cancer has increased the most, approximately 3.9% per year. Other cancers with reduced rates include Hodgkin lymphoma and leukemia, male lung cancer, and stomach and uterine cancers.

Melanomas, kidney, and thyroid have also shown a slightly increased incidence. Do not confuse incidence with survival rates. Cancer survival rates are usually expressed as five-year survival and include persons with disease still getting treatment and those who are alive at 5 years after diagnosis with no evidence of disease (NED). Improvements in the survival rate may reflect better treatments or perhaps earlier diagnosis.

Question 3

Which of the following races has the highest mortality due to cancer?

Accepted Answer

African American

Answer

Explanation:
According to statistics from 2013-2017, African American men had the highest cancer mortality, 227.3 per 100,000 population, while women in this group recorded 153.4.

Caucasians and then Hispanics were next most frequent, while mortality among Asian/Pacific Islanders was the lowest of the major races, 117.3 for men and 85.6 for women. The mortality rate among African American men is about 20% higher than that for Caucasians, while for women it is 12% higher in the African American community.

Interestingly, American Indians and Alaskan natives show a mortality rate lower than that of Caucasians: 173.1 versus 189.6 for men and 123.0 versus 136.4 for women.

Question 4

According to a current theory of carcinogenesis, which of the following are not required to transform normal cells into malignant ones?

Accepted Answer

Apoptosis

Answer

Explanation:
According to the three-stage theory of carcinogenesis, the malignant transformation of normal cells involves three distinct mechanisms. An initiator substance, which may be a chemical, physical, or biological carcinogen, damages DNA that affects a genetic change.

The damaged DNA may then undergo repair and no initiation occurs. However, if the damage is permanent (mutation), it may be subject to further modification of the cell physiology by a promoter substance that can lead to alterations in the cell's proliferative capacity or inhibit apoptosis (genetically programmed cell death). Some substances such as asbestos, tobacco smoke, or alcohol have both initiator and promoter properties. It is believed there is a threshold dose for a promoter substance to alter cell physiology that in turn depends on the nature, dose, and duration of exposure.

Question 5

The tumor suppressor gene p53:

Accepted Answer

when mutated, is associated with common human tumors, such as bladder, breast, colon, or lung.

Answer

Explanation:
Tumor suppressor genes refer to that portion of the genetic DNA that regulates cell division. Mutation or loss of these genes may lead to enhanced cell growth and proliferation. Some of these also carry out DNA repair, so that loss will lead to unregulated cell division. The mutated gene p53 is the most common tumor suppressor gene found in human cancers, including many solid malignancies, brain tumors, and hematologic cancers. It may also interfere with apoptosis, the genetically programmed mechanism to rid the tissue of old or defective cells. In addition to p53, some other well-described tumor suppressor genes are the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes that are associated with breast and ovarian cancer. These have a DNA repair function. Several other tumor suppressor genes act by other mechanisms.

ONCC - Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation Practice Test

ONCC - Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation Practice Test

Free ONCC Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner Questions and Answers