Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner (AOCNP) Certification Practice Test

Which treatment is commonly used for managing bone marrow involvement in cancer?

1. Radiation therapy

2. Surgery

3. Chemotherapy

4. Palliative care

The correct answer is: Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is commonly used for managing bone marrow involvement in cancer because it targets rapidly dividing cells, which are characteristic of many cancers that infiltrate the bone marrow. When cancer affects the bone marrow, it can disrupt normal blood cell production, leading to complications such as anemia, thrombocytopenia, and neutropenia. Chemotherapy agents work by eliminating cancerous cells, helping to restore healthy hematopoiesis (blood cell production). In contrast, while radiation therapy can also be utilized for certain localized areas of bone marrow involvement, it is not the primary systemic treatment and may not effectively address widespread bone marrow disease. Surgery is rarely a viable option for bone marrow involvement, as the entire marrow space may be affected, and removing it is not feasible. Palliative care focuses on relieving symptoms and improving the quality of life rather than actively treating the cancer itself, and while it is an important aspect of comprehensive cancer care, it does not actively manage the cancer in the same way chemotherapy does. Therefore, chemotherapy stands out as the mainstay treatment for this specific concern.