Which of the following statements regarding prognosis in lung cancer is true?

Related MCQs

• A 64-year-old woman has the following family history: One sister, who was a smoker, had lung cancer at the age of 63 years; another sister had breast cancer at the age of 70 years. Her father had prostate cancer at 82 years of age, and her mother had breast cancer at age 71 years. She has three other sisters, now aged 58, 60, and 65 years who have no history of cancer. She has two daughters and two sons between the ages of 25 and 39 years, who have no history of cancer. Her ancestry is European in general, and she is not of known Ashkenazi Jewish descent. She is concerned that “cancer runs in the family” and would like to have one of those “gene tests” she has read about. What is the best advice to give her and her family?
• According to the VA Lung Cancer Group's classification, which of the following sites of lymphadenopathy is associated with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer?
• A 50-year-old menstruating woman has a 1 .5-cm moderately differentiated breast cancer. The lesion is completely excised, and the margins of the excision are negative. Axillary node sampling shows that she has three positive nodes. The tumor is negative for estrogen and progesterone receptors and is highly positive for HER2. She is otherwise healthy. Her mother had breast cancer at 62 years and was treated by mastectomy; she is alive and healthy at the age of 80 years. The patients sister had breast cancer at 54 years and was treated by breast conservation therapy; 4 years later she died of a recurrence of breast cancer. The patient has seen two different surgeons with opposing viewpoints regarding the best treatment, and she has been reading extensively on the Internet and has become confused about her options. Which of the following represents the best treatment for this patient?
• A 25-year-old woman has her first routine check-up. Her mother died of lung cancer at the age of 60 years, and her father has had a head and neck cancer. She is very worried about getting cancer and wants to know what she can do to reduce her risk, as much as possible, of getting either of these cancers. In addition to avoidance of tobacco, which of the following approaches has been demonstrated to decrease risk for one or both of these cancers?
• A 58-year-old postmenopausal woman has been taking hormone replacement therapy with combined estrogen and progestin for the past 4 years because she was told it would decrease her risk for heart disease. Her father died at age 65 years of heart disease, and she is concerned that she is also at risk. Recently, her sister has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Her mother died of breast cancer. Three years ago, the patient had a breast biopsy that showed atypical hyperplasia. She has not had a hysterectomy. The patient is considering chemoprevention for breast cancer, but is nonetheless concerned about heart disease. Her calculated risk of breast cancer is 10.4% over the next 5 years. Which of the following options is reasonable to consider for this patient?
• A 40-year-old woman has a routine gynecologic examination. At the age of 32 years, she gave birth to twins after receiving fertility drugs. She has just seen a television program on ovarian cancer, and is concerned because previous use of fertility drugs and a family history of ovarian cancer were mentioned as possible risk factors. Her mother developed endometrial cancer at 56 years, and a paternal uncle was diagnosed with a type of lymphoma at 60 years. She has one older sister with hypertension and one younger brother who is healthy. Results of her pelvic examination are unremarkable, but she asks what additional tests she should have to look for ovarian cancer in the early stages that cannot be detected by physical examination. What is the most appropriate management for this patient?
• An 82-year-old woman who has never smoked is evaluated because of a persistent cough. Chest radiograph shows several lung nodules and infiltrates. There are no significant findings on physical examination. The patient reports no weight loss. Blood studies show no abnormalities. CT scans confirm pulmonary involvement only, and results of bone scan and CT scan of the head are normal. The patient most likely has which of the following histologic types of lung cancer?
• What stage of non-small cell lung cancer is most appropriate for a patient who has a 3-cm mass in the right upper lobe, mediastinal adenopathy, and a 2-cm nodule in the right lower lobe of the lung?
• A 40-year-old woman was treated for breast cancer 5 years ago by lumpectomy, breast irradiation, and 3 months of chemotherapy. Her original cancer was negative for estrogen and progesterone receptors and unequivocally positive for HER2. Her periods stopped during chemotherapy but resumed 4 months later, and she remains premenopausal now. She is evaluated now because of pain in her back, a nagging cough, and fatigue. Physical examination shows palpable skin nodules over the affected breast, axillary adenopathy, and dullness to percussion, and decreased breath sounds in the base of the left lung; her liver edge is palpable below the right costochondral border. Liver function values are approximately twice normal; serum bilirubin is normal. Radiograph of the chest shows multiple pulmonary nodules and a left pleural effusion confirmed by CT, which also shows the liver nodules. Bone scan and MRI are consistent with bone metastases. Biopsy of one of the skin lesions is consistent with metast
• A 62-year-old postmenopausal woman with a family history of breast cancer in two first-degree relatives wishes to consider taking tamoxifen to reduce her risk of breast cancer. Her baseline risk of breast cancer qualifies her for consideration of tamoxifen (i.e., an absolute risk of at least 1.66% over the next 5 years). She has had a prior hysterectomy, but her ovaries are intact. Which of the following effects of tamoxifen are relevant to the decision?