A nurse is caring for a client who recently started treatment for Stage I Hodgkin's lymphoma and describes the following to the nurse: "My arms and hands feel so tight and heavy. I can't put my ring on and I'm having trouble doing everyday things around the house because my fingers won't move normally." The nurse should understand that the client is experiencing which of the following complications associated with cancer and cancer treatments?

Rationale: A. Peripheral neuropathy typically causes numbness, tingling, burning, or shooting pain in the hands and feet. While it affects sensation and sometimes motor function, it does not usually cause swelling or tightness that prevents rings from fitting. B. Mucositis refers to painful inflammation and ulceration of the mucous membranes, usually in the mouth or gastrointestinal tract, caused by chemotherapy or radiation. It does not affect the arms, hands, or fingers. C. The client’s tightness, heaviness, and swelling in the arms and hands, along with difficulty moving fingers and fitting rings, are classic signs of lymphedema. Lymphedema can occur after lymph node removal, radiation, or other treatments for Hodgkin’s lymphoma, due to impaired lymphatic drainage. It is a common complication of cancer treatment, particularly in lymphoma. D. Fatigue is a general, pervasive sense of tiredness and low energy, which is common during cancer treatment. However, it does not cause localized swelling, tightness, or restricted hand movement, so it does not explain the client’s symptoms.