Systemic joint pain with fatigue should raise suspicion for which triad?

• A. Cancer, Depression, Anxiety
• B. Angina
• C. Fibromyalgia
• D. Appendicitis

Answer: (A)

Systemic symptoms like joint pain and fatigue aren’t typical of a simple muscle strain and should raise concern for a process that affects the whole body. Cancer can present with persistent joint or bone pain, fatigue, and other systemic signs, and depression or anxiety often accompany chronic illness, amplifying symptoms or limiting function. This combination—physical systemic symptoms plus mood disturbance—points toward a serious underlying condition rather than a primary musculoskeletal disorder. Among the options, cancer paired with depression and anxiety best explains systemic joint pain with fatigue, whereas the other choices either focus on a specific organ issue (angina), describe a primary pain syndrome without that systemic-mood link (fibromyalgia), or present an acute non-systemic condition (appendicitis).