Woman diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer after flight

Khaosod•International•5d ago

Reader Briefing

A 22-year-old California woman was diagnosed with a rare form of nasopharyngeal cancer after experiencing persistent ear pressure following a flight to Chicago.

•Ida Burkins, a 22-year-old from California, discovered she had nasopharyngeal cancer after a flight to Chicago.
•Symptoms included persistent ear clogging, hearing loss, bleeding from the nose, fatigue, and weight loss.
•Medical examinations revealed a tumor blocking the Eustachian tube and lymph node involvement near the base of the skull.
•Ida Burkins is currently undergoing chemotherapy, which has significantly reduced the size of the tumor.

Overview

•On September 1, 2026, Ida Burkins shared her experience of discovering cancer after a flight to Chicago.
•Ida Burkins initially experienced an inability to adjust ear pressure after landing, which was first mistaken by doctors as a result of altitude changes.
•Ida Burkins underwent surgery to remove severely inflamed adenoids and a second biopsy after the left side of her neck began to swell.
•A CT scan revealed a tumor spreading across several areas, including lymph nodes near the base of the skull.
•Ida Burkins was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer, which occurs in the upper throat, behind the nasal cavity, and above the back of the mouth.
•Ida Burkins expressed fear during the diagnosis regarding the possibility of not seeing her 1 and 3-year-old children grow up.
•Ida Burkins is receiving chemotherapy, resulting in a significant reduction in the size of the cancerous mass.

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Key Entities

Person

Ida Burkins(ไอดา เบอร์คินส์)

A 22-year-old woman from California diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer.

Place

Chicago(ชิคาโก)ℹ️

The destination of the flight after which Ida Burkins experienced ear issues.

California(แคลิฟอร์เนีย)ℹ️

The state where Ida Burkins is from.

Organization

New York Post(newyork post)ℹ️

The source of the information regarding Ida Burkins.