Breeze Hunter was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia after dealing with a sinus infection that she couldn’t shake
The college student underwent a rigorous treatment regimen before being declared cancer-free
She is now encouraging others to listen to their bodies and take their health seriously
A college student is reflecting on her tough health battle after a sinus infection led to a cancer diagnosis.
Breeze Hunter, a senior at Texas A&M University, was beginning the fall semester when she started struggling due to a sinus infection that she couldn’t shake. The 22-year-old dealt with headaches for months and an annoying pressure in her nose.
“I had a lot of fluid in my ears, which was causing the headaches,” she told Today. “I went to a clinic a few times and they pretty much said it was a sinus infection.”
However, her symptoms persisted so much that at one point, she was too weak to even walk to her classes. She knew something was wrong and returned to the doctors in October 2024.
“I told them that the headaches are still here. I’m very weak and had fatigue,” she said. “They recommended doing a blood test.”
Related: Parents of 6-Year-Old Told to ‘Wait It Out’ After Doctors Dismissed Leukemia Symptoms as ‘Usual Bug Going Around’
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After undergoing the blood test, she received life-changing news. Hunter was immediately urged to go to the emergency room, where she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a form of leukemia that targets the blood and bone marrow. The American Cancer Society estimates that this year, there will be 22,010 new cases of AML mostly in adults.
“I felt so scared. I kind of blacked out,” she recalled. “I was like, ‘There’s no way she just said that. No way.’”
“I freaked out,” she added. “I had no idea what leukemia was. I was like am I going to survive this? Or is it treatable?”
Hunter was transferred to The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and hospitalized for treatment. As part of a clinical trial, she began seven days of chemotherapy infusions with a pill.
“I was supposed to get at least six rounds,” she told the outlet. “The chemo worked so well I only had to do two.”
Related: ChatGPT Diagnosed a Woman with Blood Cancer a Year Before Her Doctors Found It
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Hunter then underwent 11 rounds of radiation, one new and intense round of chemotherapy, and a stem cell transplant — thanks to her brother Roy, 21, who was a perfect match.
“I got a radiation/chemo burn all over my body, which was very very painful and I was pretty much burnt all over,” she explained. “Probably towards the end I was over it. I was like, ‘I can’t do this. This is too much.’ It was very hard at times but God’s watching me. So, I knew I was going to be OK.”
Despite the difficult journey, Dr. Courtney DiNardo — professor of leukemia at the MD Anderson Cancer Center — told Today that Hunter responded extremely well to her treatment.
“She’s doing fantastic,” she said. “Being a college student in the prime of your life getting dealt a life-threatening cancer diagnosis, I can only imagine how life altering and depressing it could be. But she’s always had such a beautiful spirit and good attitude.”
Related: Mom Says Doctor ‘Rolled Her Eyes,’ Called Her ‘Neurotic’ While Dismissing Daughter’s Cancer Symptoms. Then She Died
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Hunter has now completed the intense treatment regimen and feels a lot better. She was declared cancer-free in February but will continue maintenance chemotherapy for the next year. The 22-year-old told the outlet that her immune system has even strengthened enough for doctors to allow her to walk in her upcoming college graduation.
“I’m so excited,” she boasted.
Since her diagnosis, Hunter has been documenting her cancer journey on social media — even going viral in a MTV Cribs-inspired TikTok video showing off her decorated hospital room. She hopes that sharing her story will encourage others to listen to their bodies and stay on top of their health.
“Cancer is very, very scary,” Hunter said. “If you ever have any side effects like headaches, you’re losing weight, you have bruises on you, anything like that, go to the doctor and get bloodwork done … it can’t hurt you and it just tells you if something is wrong.”
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