Practice Question
A nurse is assessing a client who has a long history of smoking and is suspected of having laryngeal cancer. The nurse should anticipate that the client will report that her earliest manifestation was
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Correct Answer:
hoarseness.
Rationale:
🟨 Laryngeal cancer most commonly begins with persistent hoarseness or voice changes, especially in clients with a history of smoking or alcohol use.
🟨 The tumor often arises on the vocal cords, interfering with normal vibration and sound production.
🟨 Hoarseness lasting longer than 2 weeks is a red-flag symptom that requires evaluation by a provider.
🟨 Early identification at this stage improves prognosis and can allow more conservative treatment.
🟨 Therefore, hoarseness is classically the earliest reported manifestation of laryngeal cancer.
Weight loss.
🟨 Weight loss is generally a later sign of malignancy, often reflecting systemic effects, reduced intake, or difficulty swallowing.
🟨 In laryngeal cancer, weight loss usually appears after symptoms like hoarseness, dysphagia, or pain have persisted.
🟨 It is not typically the first complaint that brings the client to medical attention.
🟨 Using it as the earliest indicator could lead to missed opportunities for early diagnosis.
🟨 Therefore, weight loss is an important but late manifestation.
Dyspnea.
🟨 Dyspnea can occur when the laryngeal tumor becomes large enough to obstruct the airway or involve surrounding structures.
🟨 This is more common in advanced disease, not at the earliest stage.
🟨 Early cancers are often small and mainly affect the voice, not airway patency.
🟨 Waiting for dyspnea to appear before suspecting cancer would delay diagnosis.
🟨 Thus, dyspnea is a later, more serious manifestation, not the earliest.
Dysphagia.
🟨 Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, typically occurs when the tumor extends or grows large enough to interfere with the pharynx or esophagus.
🟨 Like dyspnea, it tends to be a later symptom, indicating progression.
🟨 Early laryngeal cancer is more likely to cause voice changes than swallowing problems.
🟨 Relying on dysphagia as the earliest indication may delay recognition.
🟨 Therefore, dysphagia is significant but not the first or earliest manifestation.
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This question is from Custom Concept Quiz 2 which contains 40 questions.
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Question Details
- Category: RN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: ATI Exam(s)
- Domain: RN Custom Exam(s)
- Answer Choices: 4