During an assessment, a patient tells the nurse that her fingers often change color when she goes out in cold weather. She describes these episodes as her fingers first turning white, then blue, then red with a burning, throbbing pain. What does the nurse suspect?

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The condition with episodes of abrupt, progressive tricolor changes of the fingers in response to cold, vibration, or stress is known as Raynaud phenomenon. Lymphedema is an accumulation of protein-rich fluid in the interstitial spaces in the arm that may occur with breast cancer. Lymphedema after breast cancer causes unilateral swelling and nonpitting brawny edema, with overlying skin indurated. It is caused by the removal of lymph nodes with breast surgery or damage to lymph nodes and channels with radiation therapy for breast cancer. Lymphedema can impede drainage of lymph. Deep vein thrombosis is the development of a thrombus, or clot, in a deep vein, most commonly in the legs, not the arms. Symptoms of chronic arterial insufficiency are significant elevational pallor and delayed venous filling in the legs.

During an Assessment, a Patient Tells the Nurse That Her