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Oncology and cancer care basics: RCSI aptitude test practice questions

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Oncology and cancer care basics on the RCSI theory paper

What cancer is, benign and malignant, routes of spread, cancer types, how chemotherapy works, side effects and the SOS hotline triggers, infection precautions, BreastCheck, BowelScreen and CervicalCheck.

28 multiple-choice questions, each with an explanation and the document it was checked against. Three questions are free; the pass opens the other 25 and every other topic. Wrong answers come back first the next time you practise, and a question counts as mastered after two correct answers in a row.

Sample questions from this topic

  1. Question 1

    What is chemoradiation?

    1. AA diagnostic scan that combines a CT image with a test dose of chemotherapy
    2. BRadiotherapy delivered through a radioactive drug injected into a vein and taken up by the tumour
    3. CChemotherapy and radiotherapy given together, the drugs making the radiation work better
    4. DChemotherapy given only after a full course of radiotherapy has failed to shrink the tumour
    Show answer

    Answer: C. HSE, Chemotherapy: chemoradiation (chemoradiotherapy) uses both treatments together because chemotherapy can make radiotherapy more effective; it is used when surgery is unsuitable, before surgery to shrink a tumour, or to reduce recurrence after surgery.

    Source: HSE: Chemotherapy: What chemoradiation is

  2. Question 2

    What is a carcinoma?

    1. AA cancer of the blood-forming tissue in the bone marrow affecting white cells
    2. BA cancer of bone or soft tissue such as muscle, fat, blood vessels and nerves
    3. CA cancer starting in epithelial cells of the skin or the lining of internal organs
    4. DA cancer of lymphocytes that build up in the glands of the lymphatic system
    Show answer

    Answer: C. ICS, Types of cancer: carcinomas begin in epithelial cells in the skin or in the tissue lining internal organs (subtypes include adenocarcinoma, basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma). Sarcomas start in bone or soft tissue, leukaemias in the blood-forming marrow, lymphomas in lymphocytes, and myeloma in plasma cells. Most common adult cancers (breast, bowel, lung, prostate) are carcinomas.

    Source: Irish Cancer Society: What is cancer?, Types of cancer

  3. Question 3

    Which cancer begins in plasma cells, the antibody-producing cells of the immune system?

    1. AOsteosarcoma
    2. BHodgkin lymphoma
    3. CMultiple myeloma
    4. DAcute leukaemia
    Show answer

    Answer: C. ICS, Types of cancer: multiple myeloma begins in plasma cells, which make antibodies. Lymphoma begins in lymphocytes; leukaemia in the marrow tissue that makes blood cells; sarcoma in bone or soft tissue. Myeloma patients are prone to infection, bone pain and fractures, kidney damage and raised calcium, all of which a ward nurse may meet.

    Source: Irish Cancer Society: What is cancer?, Types of cancer

The practice above shuffles the options each time and keeps your score. 30 more free questions across the paper, with a PDF.

Documents behind these questions

Every fact was checked against the public document named on the answer. This topic draws on:

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