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?
a. White blood cell (WBC) count of 1500/mm3
b. Presence of fatigue with a headache
c. Presence of slight nausea and no appetite
d. Two diarrhea stools yesterday
A
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.
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