Today we’d like to introduce you to Philecia La’bounty
Philecia, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was misdiagnosed early 2018 maybe even December 2017, I found the lump myself in the movies, I was adjusting my left breast in my sports bra, as I did so, I felt a little marble shape and sized lump … something I have never felt before. I had a very large natural bust, equal to 1,000 CC implants, I had never had any lumps before and I was nearly 30! I worked in a family practice office, per diem position. I did not have benefits, I didn’t qualify for Obama care, I didn’t qualify for medical or any assistance and I certainly couldn’t afford private insurance … I never needed to go to the doctors, I didn’t take any daily medications and I used Planned Parenthood for my yearly exams. I spoke to a few of the doctors at my office and they recommended I go to a state funded clinic first testing. I did so, they did blood work and an ultrasound … everything came back fine, they said it was just a “cyst”.
I disagreed with them, even though I felt fine, I didn’t feel “sick” but I just didn’t feel right, I asked them for mammogram that was ultimately was denied TWICE because of my AGE and NO FAMILY HISTORY… being young and feeling fine … I trusted them.
8 ish months later the lump had grown to around 8 CM which is huge in a breast and I went back, I said this is now really bothering me aesthetically … thats when the chaos started, immediately into mammograms, MRI’s, Scans, blood work and a pet scan … it was insanity … the end all diagnosis was Stage 4 breast cancer that had spread from my left breast to a lymph node in my left armpit, my sternum and both my lungs …. I announced my diagnosis on June 26th 2018. I endured 12 rounds of chemo and removal of my ovaries, countless scans, specialist, more pokes of needles then I could ever keep track of. I gave it everything I had and I became cancer free October 25th 2019!! I was on daily oral chemotherapy because of the late stage of cancer … unfortunately around March of 2023 my cancer was back, it has broken through the chemotherapy and was growing again… I opted for a double mastectomy this time to remove both breasts and the mass (come back in the same breast again) in the pathology from that mastectomy they found a second type of breast cancer and shortly after recovery I started 12 additional rounds of chemotherapy, but each scan showed another growth, one again in my left armpit lymph node…. A total of 4 recurrences. With the advancements in medication 2 weeks ago, August of 2024 we got the incredible news the new medication has shrunk my cancer by 50% and no new cancer to be found anywhere! We are hopeful to become cancer free again soon!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a smooth road, having a late stage cancer is very tricky. I will forever be on medications, have scans and the fears of reoccurrences. Last year I went through my 2nd heavy fight with cancer, its been 6 years since diagnosis and I am still fighting just as hard,
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I work for Sunrun solar, I have a door to door representative. I help homes qualify for cost free solar systems with backup battery storage that also allows me to lower their monthly bill, give them control over their bill and security like they have never had before! We service 22 states and helping people from all around the country is so exciting I love what I do and who I work for!
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Fight for your health, ask for second opinions and just keep fighting if you are in this battle with me. It’s an injury, we rehab and recovery every time!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tiktok.com/@philecialabounty?_t=8pstAgHARgM&_r=1
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philecia?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
