California Woman's Earache After Flight Revealed as Rare Cancer
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
A 22-year-old California woman, Aida Berkins, was diagnosed with a rare Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma after experiencing persistent ear blockage and bleeding following a flight. Initially misdiagnosed as altitude sickness, her condition worsened over months, leading to a CT scan that revealed tumors. Professor Oded Cohen explained that this cancer, linked to the Epstein-Barr virus, can present with ear symptoms and often goes undetected until advanced stages. Berkins is undergoing chemotherapy and radiation, showing positive response, and urges others to seek medical attention for persistent symptoms.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Aida Berkins, 22, was diagnosed with rare Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma after months of ear blockage and bleeding post-flight.
- Her symptoms, initially dismissed as altitude sickness, included hearing loss and nosebleeds.
- The rare cancer is linked to the Epstein-Barr virus and often diagnosed late due to its location.
- Persistent ear blockage can be an early sign of this cancer, according to Professor Oded Cohen.
- Berkins is responding well to chemotherapy and radiation treatment.
- She urges people not to ignore persistent symptoms and to seek medical evaluation.
A 22-year-old woman from California, Aida Berkins, experienced persistent ear blockage and bleeding after a flight to Chicago in May 2025. Initially dismissed by doctors as altitude sickness, her symptoms worsened over months, including hearing loss, fatigue, weight loss, and nosebleeds when bending over. Doctors discovered a mass blocking her Eustachian tube, leading to further investigation. Despite her young age, doctors suspected cancer due to the unusual findings, including enlarged adenoids and a growing mass on the left side of her throat. A CT scan revealed masses in multiple areas, including lymph nodes at the base of her skull.
In February 2026, after extensive testing, Berkins was diagnosed with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC), a rare cancer of the upper part of the throat behind the nose. The diagnosis was devastating for Berkins, who worried about not seeing her children grow up. Professor Oded Cohen, an Israeli ENT specialist, explained that NPC is uncommon, particularly in Western populations, and is linked to the Epstein-Barr virus. He noted that the tumor's hidden location often leads to late diagnosis, sometimes presenting as a neck lump indicating metastasis.
Professor Cohen highlighted that a blocked Eustachian tube, causing a feeling of fullness in one ear, can be an early sign of this cancer, especially if it persists for about a month without a clear cause like a flight or viral illness. Other potential symptoms include nasal blockage and nosebleeds. Early detection, he stressed, is crucial for better oncological outcomes and potentially avoiding chemotherapy.
Berkins underwent combined chemotherapy and radiation treatment, which significantly reduced the tumor. She is optimistic about her recovery and shared her story to emphasize that cancer can affect anyone, regardless of age, urging people not to ignore persistent symptoms and to seek medical evaluation. Doctors are hopeful she will be cancer-free.
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