Which statement about resting blood pressure during cancer treatment is most accurate?

Which statement about resting blood pressure during cancer treatment is most accurate?

• A. Resting blood pressure is unaffected by cancer therapy.
• B. Resting blood pressure always increases with treatment.
• C. Resting blood pressure may rise with chemotherapy only.
• D. Some chemotherapy drugs may lower resting blood pressure.

Answer: (D)

Resting blood pressure can be affected by cancer treatment, and this varies with the drugs used and the patient’s condition. Some chemotherapy drugs can cause a drop in resting blood pressure, such as through infusion-related hypotension, vasodilation, or reduced cardiac output from cardiotoxic effects. Because this is a recognized, real possibility, the statement that resting blood pressure may be lowered during chemotherapy is the most accurate. The other statements are too absolute or incomplete: resting BP is not guaranteed to be unaffected, it does not always rise with treatment, and changes in blood pressure aren’t limited to increases with chemotherapy alone—both decreases and increases can occur depending on the specific regimen and patient factors.

Resting blood pressure can be affected by cancer treatment, and this varies with the drugs used and the patient’s condition. Some chemotherapy drugs can cause a drop in resting blood pressure, such as through infusion-related hypotension, vasodilation, or reduced cardiac output from cardiotoxic effects. Because this is a recognized, real possibility, the statement that resting blood pressure may be lowered during chemotherapy is the most accurate.

The other statements are too absolute or incomplete: resting BP is not guaranteed to be unaffected, it does not always rise with treatment, and changes in blood pressure aren’t limited to increases with chemotherapy alone—both decreases and increases can occur depending on the specific regimen and patient factors.