Woman, 22, diagnosed with cancer after her ears didn’t pop on flight
A 22-year-old mum has spoken out about the 'horrifying' moment a doctor revealed the sinister reason behind an issue with her ears.
Aida Burkins spent nine months searching for answers after a strange symptom first cropped up in May last year, marking the start of her health taking a nosedive.
She subsequently discovered that she had a rare form of cancer that stunned doctors.
Aida explained that it all started after she took a flight to Chicago, Illinois, from her home in Hemet, California, and was unable to pop her ears after touching down.
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As anyone who has been on a plane will know, this often happens to passengers travelling by air due to the fluctuations in altitude.
According to Boots Hearingcare, if you cannot pop your ears, there are several things that might be responsible - including Eustachian tube dysfunction, sinus congestion, or earwax buildup.
It explains: "It's advisable to avoid forceful attempts to pop your ears, as this can sometimes exacerbate the issue. Instead, consider strategies like swallowing, yawning, or chewing gum to encourage natural equalisation."
Experts recommend consulting a professional if this persists or is accompanied by pain.
In Aida's case, her hearing ability began to deteriorate drastically, while she was constantly fatigued. The mum explained that she also lost a significant amount of weight.
Speaking to Newsweek, she said: "I started bleeding into my throat, which would only come out of my nose if I was bent at the hip at about 90 degrees.
"My hearing got worse and worse. Then I started getting more tired and losing weight."
Aida's symptoms
In a TikTok video detailing her symptoms, she explained she would 'literally be choking on how much [blood] was just leaking into my throat'.
Aida claims that doctors initially told her it was 'just altitude sickness' that would eventually subside, however, she continued to experience an array of worrying symptoms.
It was later determined that the bizarre bleeding was the result of a mass that was blocking her Eustachian tube and she then visited an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist for further investigation.
During this time, she dealt with 'muffled' hearing and had a constant 'ringing' in her ears.
The ENT expert then informed her that her adenoids - which are small lumps of tissue at the back of the throat, right behind the nose, that help fight infection - were inflamed and needed to be removed.
He also said he was 'suspicious' that cancer might be the cause, although then said this was unlikely due to her being just 22.
The left side of Aida's throat then became extremely swollen, prompting medics to take a biopsy from her neck. She said her doctor informed her that 'he had never seen anything quite like what she had going on'.
A CT scan then revealed she had 'lumps and bumps everywhere', including in lymph nodes at the base of her skull.
In February this year after months of tests, Aida was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).
The NHS explains that this 'rare' form of cancer impacts the part of the throat connecting the back of the nose to the back of the mouth, which is known as the pharynx.
Symptoms include a lump in the next that doesn't disappear, hearing loss that usually only impacts one ear, tinnitus, a blocked nose, nosebleeds, headaches and double vision, among other things.
'It was horrifying'
Patients diagnosed with NPC typically undergo radiotherapy and chemotherapy as treatment, which is what Aida has had. Surgery isn't usually an option due to difficulties in accessing the affected area.
Discussing the moment she received the diagnosis, the mother said: "Hearing I have cancer, all I thought about was not being able to see my babies grow up or do the things they want to do in life. It was horrifying."
Despite being just 22, she wants to remind people that 'cancer doesn't discriminate'. She's urging others who may be suffering from similar symptoms to advocate for themselves too, no matter what age you are.
Aida said that doctors are 'optimistic that she'll be cancer-free' after finishing her treatment, as she added: "My prognosis is overall good.
"Everything is shrinking and responding to the treatments my doctors have been giving me."
Olivia Burke