When performing a breast self-examination, the patient noticed an area that looks like the peel of an orange but with no other changes. The patient decided to call the ambulatory care clinic and informed the nurse about what she found. The nurse should

Explanation

• The nurse must arrange a schedule for the patient to seek consultation with the physician as soon as possible because peau d’orange, an orange-peel appearance of the skin, could be indicative of aggressive breast cancer.

Peau d’orange means “orange peel skin” in French. When a person discovers this during breast self-examination, the skin of the breast has the appearance and dimpled texture of an orange.

• Peau d’orange needs immediate attention but does not indicate sign of infection.

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