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Woman Notices Ear Didn’t Pop After Flight, Leads to Horrifying Diagnosis
Newsweek • • health
Key Points:
- Aida Burkins, a 22-year-old mother from Hemet, California, was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) after a nine-month medical journey that began with ear issues following a flight to Chicago in May 2025.
- Initially misdiagnosed with altitude sickness, Burkins experienced worsening symptoms including ear bleeding, hearing loss, fatigue, and weight loss, leading to the discovery of a suspicious mass blocking her Eustachian tube.
- After multiple biopsies and scans revealed widespread lumps, Burkins was diagnosed with the rare head and neck cancer NPC in February 2026, a disease strongly linked to Epstein-Barr virus and rare in the U.S.
- She has undergone chemotherapy and radiation therapy with positive results, and doctors are optimistic about her prognosis as the cancer responds well to treatment.
- Burkins hopes her experience raises awareness about NPC symptoms and emphasizes that cancer can affect young people, drawing strength from her children as motivation to fight the disease.
