Cenla woman’s allergies diagnosed years later as stage 3 cancer

SIMMESPORT, La. (KALB) - One day, Taylee Lemoine was at work. The next, a doctor’s appointment revealed she had cancer in her throat.

“Your life really can change in just a moment,” she said.

April is Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month, and Lemoine’s story is a reminder of why early detection matters. She said her symptoms were dismissed for years until a second opinion revealed stage 3 cancer.

“I guess they never really looked for cancer in somebody so young,” she said.

Symptoms were dismissed for two years

At just 21, the Simmesport native said she knew something was wrong. She lost her voice temporarily but was told it was allergies or acid reflux. For two years, the symptoms would not go away.

Then a biopsy in Baton Rouge changed everything.

“And that’s when he found the cancer in my throat, and that it was a stage three. And he said that he believed that it was there the whole time,” Lemoine said.

Daily radiation and chemotherapy

Lemoine is now battling laryngeal cancer, undergoing daily radiation and chemotherapy.

“I’m hoping that’s what’s going to heal me, is the radiation, because that’s what they said should heal is the radiation. It’s just five days a week, and then every day a new side effect comes along,” she said.

Those side effects, including painful burns and loss of taste, have forced her to put her life on hold.

“How do I know my food’s good if I can’t taste it? So that it does kind of affect cooking-wise, but, you know, throw things together and hope for the best,” she said.

Persistent symptoms should not be ignored

Rizwan Aslam, chair of the Department of Otolaryngology at Tulane University School of Medicine, said persistent symptoms should never be ignored.

“So, you know, the symptoms of head and neck cancer are oftentimes masked by common ailments, right? Coughs, colds, I have a sore throat, or I have a lump in my neck. And that’s very common. That’s not an uncommon presentation, unfortunately. You know, I think the bigger concern is when those things persist,” Aslam said.

He said age should not rule out concern.

“But now we’ve seen this paradigm shift towards HPV-related disease, and you’re seeing younger patients kind of coming to the front in terms of this diagnosis with head and neck cancer,” he said.

Life on hold

For Lemoine, the fight is just beginning. She has already had to leave her job at Angola State Penitentiary and move closer to treatment. And if it does not work, she could lose her voice permanently.

“I love my voice. I love to talk. I got ADHD. I’ll speak all day, you know,” she said.

But through it all, she is leaning on her faith, determined to keep fighting.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. And always acknowledge Him, for He shall straighten your paths,” she said.

She also draws strength from the support around her.

“I have a good support team. I love everybody around me. Like, there’s even been strangers who are coming up to me. I post on TikTok too, and they’ll just ask if they can hug me. I’m not going to deny a hug, you know. So, I hug them,” Lemoine said.

The young patient is also struggling with the financial strain of treatment. Her family has set up an online fundraiser.

Click here to report a typo. Please provide the title of the article in your email.