What symptom is most commonly associated with chronic myeloid leukemia?

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a type of cancer that primarily affects the blood and bone marrow, characterized by the overproduction of myeloid cells. Among the symptoms most commonly reported in CML, fatigue stands out due to several underlying factors. The disease can lead to anemia, which is a reduced number of red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body. This lack of oxygen can cause feelings of tiredness and lack of energy.

Additionally, as the disease progresses, the proliferation of abnormal myeloid cells can disrupt normal blood cell production, further contributing to fatigue. Patients often describe a generalized sense of weakness and low stamina, which are classic indicators of anemia and the body's response to the malignancy.

While weight loss, fever, and joint pain may also occur in patients with CML, they are less frequently the primary complaint. Weight loss could be associated with other conditions or later stages of disease, fever may indicate an infection or a severe reaction to the disease, and joint pain is not a common presenting symptom of CML itself. Thus, fatigue emerges as the symptom most consistently reported by patients, making it a hallmark sign of chronic myeloid leukemia.