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See where you stand before you buy. These sample questions match the ONCC CBCN
style — scenario-based, single best answer, with a rationale that explains the reasoning. Work
each one before reading the answer.
Unlock 2,100+ CBCN practice questions across 15 full-length simulators — $19.99 lifetime →
How close are these to the real CBCN?
The CBCN is 165 questions (125 scored, 40 unscored) over 3 hours, spanning breast care across the
continuum — screening and diagnosis, treatment, symptom and survivorship care, and coordination.
The samples below reflect that.
Sample CBCN questions
- A breast tumor is ER-positive, PR-positive, and HER2-negative. Which therapy is most
appropriate?- A. Trastuzumab
- B. Endocrine (hormonal) therapy such as tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor
- C. No systemic therapy
- D. Immediate bilateral mastectomy
Answer: B. Hormone-receptor-positive tumors respond to endocrine therapy —
tamoxifen (often premenopausal) or an aromatase inhibitor (postmenopausal). Trastuzumab (A) targets
HER2-positive disease. - A HER2-positive breast cancer is best treated with the addition of:
- A. Tamoxifen
- B. An aromatase inhibitor
- C. Trastuzumab (a HER2-targeted agent)
- D. Endocrine therapy alone
Answer: C. HER2-positive tumors are treated with HER2-targeted therapy such as
trastuzumab. Matching treatment to receptor status is central CBCN knowledge. - Which lymph node procedure is typically performed first to stage early breast cancer with
clinically negative nodes?- A. Full axillary lymph node dissection
- B. Sentinel lymph node biopsy
- C. No nodal assessment
- D. Supraclavicular node biopsy
Answer: B. Sentinel lymph node biopsy samples the first draining node(s) and
spares many patients a full axillary dissection and its higher lymphedema risk. - To reduce lymphedema risk after axillary surgery, the nurse teaches the patient to:
- A. Have blood draws and blood pressures in the affected arm
- B. Avoid injury, blood draws, and blood pressures in the affected arm
- C. Keep the arm immobile indefinitely
- D. Apply heat to the arm daily
Answer: B. Protecting the at-risk arm — avoiding trauma, venipuncture, and
blood pressures on that side — helps reduce lymphedema risk. Gentle activity, not immobility, is encouraged. - A patient with a strong family history of breast and ovarian cancer is most appropriately
referred for:- A. No further evaluation
- B. Genetic counseling and possible BRCA testing
- C. Immediate mastectomy
- D. Annual chest X-ray
Answer: B. A strong family history of breast and ovarian cancer warrants genetic
counseling and consideration of BRCA1/BRCA2 testing to guide risk management.
How did you do?
If the receptor-directed treatment felt fuzzy, that’s what practice is for. Our bank has 2,100+ CBCN
questions across 15 timed simulators with rationales like these, plus a free sample test.
Unlock 2,100+ CBCN practice questions across 15 full-length simulators — $19.99 lifetime →
Sources & references
The exam facts on this page are drawn from official certifying-body materials, reviewed 2026-06-18 by the DrCertifications exam-prep team (10+ years in exam preparation and publishing).