A nurse is assessing a client with suspected leukemia. Which symptom should the nurse prioritize to confirm the diagnosis?

A) This choice is incorrect because fatigue and weakness are common symptoms in leukemia, but they are not specific enough to confirm the diagnosis on their own.

B) This choice is correct. Night sweats and fever are classic symptoms of leukemia, especially in cases of acute leukemia. These symptoms are related to the presence of abnormal white blood cells in the bloodstream and their impact on the body's immune response.

C) This choice is incorrect because unexplained weight gain is not a typical symptom of leukemia. Weight loss is more commonly associated with this condition due to decreased appetite and increased energy expenditure.

D) This choice is incorrect because persistent headaches are not specific to leukemia and may indicate other underlying health issues.

A) This choice is incorrect because leukemia does not lead to the increased production of normal red blood cells. Instead, it causes the overproduction of abnormal white blood cells.

B) This choice is incorrect because leukemia does not lead to the accumulation of normal platelets in the blood. Thrombocytopenia, or low platelet count, is common in leukemia due to the suppression of normal platelet production in the bone marrow.

C) This choice is correct. In leukemia, the proliferation of abnormal white blood cells crowds out and suppresses the normal bone marrow stem cells responsible for producing red blood cells, platelets, and other white blood cells. This suppression leads to anemia and thrombocytopenia.

D) This choice is incorrect because while cancerous cells may infiltrate healthy tissues in other types of cancer, leukemia primarily affects the bone marrow and blood, not other organs or tissues.