{"id":14261,"date":"2025-04-30T14:04:46","date_gmt":"2025-04-30T18:04:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/?p=14261"},"modified":"2025-04-30T14:04:46","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T18:04:46","slug":"students-sinus-symptoms-hid-leukemia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/2025\/04\/30\/students-sinus-symptoms-hid-leukemia\/","title":{"rendered":"Student’s sinus symptoms hid leukemia"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction to the Story<\/h2>\n

For months, college student Breeze Hunter, 22, felt pressure and pain in her head. She had a lot of fluid in her ears, which was causing the headaches. Hunter went to a clinic a few times and they pretty much said it was a sinus infection.<\/p>\n

Sinus Infection Diagnosis<\/h2>\n

After Hunter became too weak to walk to classes, she underwent a blood test. When doctors received the results, they urged her to go to the emergency room immediately. She learned she had acute myeloid leukemia, an aggressive blood cancer. \u201cI felt so scared. I kind of blacked out,\u201d she recalls. \u201cI was like, \u2018There\u2019s no way she just said that. No way.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Initial Reaction to the Diagnosis<\/h3>\n

The months-long headache and pressure in her nose felt annoying, Hunter thought she simply had a sinus infection she couldn\u2019t kick. When she struggled to walk upstairs or to class at Texas A&M, she became worried. At a follow-up appointment in October 2024, she shared her new symptoms. \u201cI told them that the headaches are still here. I\u2019m very weak and had fatigue,\u201d she says. \u201cThey recommended doing a blood test.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Journey to the Correct Diagnosis<\/h2>\n

Hunter loathes needles, yet she finally agreed to undergo the testing after the doctor\u2019s urging. When her results first came back, Hunter didn\u2019t realize how serious they were. The clinic staffer said, \u2018Your levels are all over the place and it\u2019s not looking good. (You\u2019re) very anemic,\u201d she says. While they urged her to head to the emergency room, she only heard anemic and thought she could simply pick up iron pills at a pharmacy.<\/p>\n

The Turning Point<\/h3>\n

Hunter tried going to an emergency room close to campus but they were full, so she decided to drive home to League City, Texas. She had Googled her blood results and thought she figured out what was wrong. \u201cI was like, \u2018Mom, I think I have leukemia,\u2019\u201d Hunter says. \u201cShe\u2019s like, \u2018Don\u2019t say that. That\u2019s not what you have.\u2019\u201d When she arrived at the emergency room, they admitted her and ran numerous tests.<\/p>\n

Acute Myeloid Leukemia<\/h2>\n

\u201cAcute myeloid leukemia is a type of blood cancer. It is actually one of the most common blood cancers in adults,\u201d Dr. Courtney DiNardo, professor of leukemia at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, tells TODAY.com. \u201cIt can present quite dramatically with life-threatening infections or bleeding problems or \u2026 blood abnormalities.\u201d It\u2019s also common for some patients to have a persistent infection, such as sinus infection, soft tissue infection or even pneumonia.<\/p>\n

Treatment and Prognosis<\/h3>\n

The clinical trial Hunter participated in was targeted to the type of \u201chigher risk leukemia\u201d she had that doesn\u2019t \u201crespond well to standard intensive chemotherapy.\u201d AML isn\u2019t staged like other cancers and high-risk or adverse-risk is the most serious form that has \u201ccertain features that make them less likely to go into a remission and less likely to stay in a remission and be cured,\u201d DiNardo says. The Phase II investigation Hunter participated in is aimed at patients who have the same type of acute myeloid leukemia she has with a KMT2A translocation.<\/p>\n

Coping with the Diagnosis<\/h2>\n

While in the hospital, Hunter decided to document her experience. She even created an MTV \u201cCribs\u201d-type TikTok of her hospital room that went viral. \u201cWe did it as a joke and I posted it and it blew up instantly,\u201d she says. People shared their own experiences with AML or different cancers and Hunter met new friends who helped her navigate her experience with cancer.<\/p>\n

Support System<\/h3>\n

After the local news reported on Hunter, she met a young girl, Zoe, who has the same cancer. \u201cShe\u2019s 6 years old and she\u2019s had a lot of side effects and problems,\u201d Hunter says. \u201cWe\u2019re best friends … she is so young, and she has gone through way more than I have and it keeps me positive.\u201d Having her friends and family\u2019s support as well as a strong faith helps Hunter cope with her diagnosis.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

Breeze Hunter’s story serves as a reminder of the importance of taking one’s health seriously. Her experience with acute myeloid leukemia has been challenging, but with the support of her loved ones and a positive attitude, she is navigating her treatment and looking forward to the future. Hunter hopes her story encourages others to prioritize their health and seek medical attention if they experience any unusual symptoms.<\/p>\n

FAQs<\/h2>\n