A home health nurse is compiling a patient profile on a 23-year-old obese woman who smokes one-half pack of cigarettes a day and drinks 1 beer a week. She works as a cook in a long-term care facility. She has two children and eats a diet high in fats. She exercises 30 minutes a day. Both parents are dead of heart disease. How many risk factors for cancer in this profile should the nurse identify?

Rationale: A. This is inaccurate, check correct rationale on B B. Cancer risk factors are aspects of a person’s lifestyle, environment, or genetics that increase their likelihood of developing cancer. In this patient profile, the following risk factors are identified: Obesity – Being overweight increases the risk for several cancers, including breast, colon, and endometrial cancers. Smoking – Even half a pack a day increases risk for lung, oral, and other cancers. Diet high in fats – Diets high in saturated fats and low in fruits/vegetables are linked to increased cancer risk. Occupational exposure – Working as a cook in a long-term care facility may involve exposure to carcinogens from smoke, fumes, or chemicals. Family history of heart disease – While heart disease itself is not a cancer risk factor, hereditary cancer risk is not explicitly mentioned, so we do not count this as a cancer risk. Not counted: Drinking 1 beer a week is minimal alcohol consumption and generally not considered a significant cancer risk. Exercising 30 minutes a day is protective, not a risk factor. Therefore, the nurse should identify 5 cancer risk factors in this profile. C. This is inaccurate, check correct rationale on B D. This is inaccurate, check correct rationale on B