Californian Woman Shares Breast Cancer Story on TikTok to Advocate for Herself and Other Women
Philecia La'Bounty was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer at 29. She now shares her story to remind women to care for themselves, especially their health.
The 35-year-old woman said that one day in 2018, she felt uncomfortable while wearing her sports bra, so she adjusted it, and that was when she felt a small lump, the size of a marble, on her left breast.
La'Bounty said that what she felt then wasn't normal for her. She told Good Morning America that she immediately went to her doctor upon discovering the lump. The doctor did an ultrasound, a standard procedure, and a physical examination. Results, which came back quickly, showed it was a benign cyst. She was told to return should she observe the lump growing or causing discomfort.
"Nothing out of the ordinary. No concerns, my bloodwork turned out great," she added.
The Californian woman requested a mammogram twice but was unfortunately denied due to her age. Mammograms are not commonly used for people below 30 years old as their breast tissue density can make the introduced results incorrect. Her request was also declined as she had no family history of breast cancer.
A misdiagnosed lump that turned into stage four breast cancer
According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Guidelines, a mammogram screening is suggested once every two years, especially for women aged 50 to 74 with an average risk of breast cancer. Women aged 40 to 49 may start screening once every two years if they have a higher value on the potential benefit than the potential dangers or harms of the mammogram.
Doctors suggest for women of all ages that when a certain ultrasound shows a concerning finding, they must immediately set a follow-up visit as an aspiration or biopsy needs to be performed.
La'Bounty went back to a doctor eight months after discovering the lump and learned it had grown in size to eight centimeters. She said she had felt the lump growing and suspected she had breast cancer. A biopsy confirmed her suspicions, but it was already staged four breast cancer.
The now 35-year-old woman was one of the small minority of patients diagnosed with breast cancer at such a young age. According to the National Center Institute, almost 13 percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer are usually aged 25 to 29 and comprise .01 percent of new breast cancer diagnoses in the United States.
Women advocating for themselves
After La'Bounty's diagnosis, she underwent chemotherapy. One year later, she was told she was in remission.
The Californian woman has shared her breast cancer journey on social media for the past two years. She documented everything from the side effects of chemotherapy to continuing tests and medications to keep herself in remission. Such documentation serves as her advocacy to encourage other women to take care and check themselves as they have to be their own best advocates.
According to Cancer.Org, approximately 30 percent (1 in 3) of females have cancers annually.
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