The nurse is caring for a client who is to receive 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)chemotherapy IV for the treatment of colon cancer.Which assessment finding leads the nurse to contact the health care provider?

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Common side effects of 5-FU include fatigue,leukopenia,diarrhea,mucositis and mouth ulcers,and peripheral neuropathy.However,the client's WBC count is very low (normal range,5000 to 10,000/mm³),so the provider should be notified.He or she may want to delay chemotherapy by a day or two.Certainly the client is at high risk for infection.The other assessment findings are consistent with common side effects of 5-FU that would not need to be reported immediately.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Client Who Is to Receive