A 22-year-old mother has revealed how a seemingly minor ear problem led to a diagnosis of rare nasopharyngeal carcinoma, a form of cancer that initially left doctors stunned.
Aida Burkins, from Hemet, California, began experiencing symptoms after flying to Chicago, Illinois, in May last year. After landing, she could not pop her ears, a common problem caused by changes in air pressure during a flight.
According to Boots Hearingcare, difficulty popping the ears can be linked to 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 seeking medical advice if the problem continues or is accompanied by pain. In Aida’s case, her hearing deteriorated rapidly while she experienced constant fatigue and significant weight loss.
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 Burkins’ symptoms
In a TikTok video about her symptoms, Aida explained that she would ‘literally be choking on how much [blood] was just leaking into my throat’.
She said doctors initially told her it was ‘just altitude sickness’ and that the problem would eventually disappear. However, her symptoms continued to worsen.
Doctors later discovered that a mass was blocking her Eustachian tube. Aida was referred to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist, where she reported ‘muffled’ hearing and persistent ‘ringing’ in her ears.
The ENT specialist found that her adenoids were inflamed and recommended removing them. The adenoids are small areas of tissue at the back of the throat, behind the nose, that help fight infection.
The doctor also said he was ‘suspicious’ that cancer could be responsible, although he considered it unlikely because Aida was only 22.
The left side of Aida’s throat then became severely swollen, prompting doctors to take a biopsy from her neck. She said her doctor told her that ‘he had never seen anything quite like what she had going on’.
A CT scan showed ‘lumps and bumps everywhere’, including in lymph nodes at the base of her skull.
After months of tests, Aida was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in February this year.
The NHS describes this ‘rare’ cancer as affecting the part of the throat that connects the back of the nose with the back of the mouth, known as the pharynx.
Symptoms can include a lump in the neck that does not disappear, hearing loss—usually affecting one ear—tinnitus, a blocked nose, nosebleeds, headaches and double vision.
‘It was horrifying’
People diagnosed with NPC are typically treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Aida has undergone both treatments, while surgery is not usually considered because of the difficulty of accessing the affected area.
Describing the moment she received her diagnosis, Aida 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.”
Although she is only 22, Aida wants to remind people that ‘cancer doesn’t discriminate’. She is also urging anyone experiencing similar symptoms to advocate for themselves, regardless of age.
Aida said doctors are ‘optimistic that she’ll be cancer-free’ after she completes treatment. She added: “My prognosis is overall good. “Everything is shrinking and responding to the treatments my doctors have been giving me.”
