From Caregiver to Patient: Claudia’s Journey with Breast Cancer at Touro and University Medical Center New Orleans

Claudia Chiasson, now 47, began working at Touro in 2023, doing the work she loves. As an oncology radiation therapist, she prides herself on putting patients at ease with her cheerful and supportive attitude.

Over the years, Claudia has cared for countless patients and understands the kind of emotional support they need from their healthcare providers. She wanted to be someone her patients would remember long after their radiation treatments were over. For her, that meant providing the same level of care she would want for her own closest friends and family if they ever faced a cancer diagnosis.

What Claudia never imagined was that she would one day be the one sitting in the chair receiving radiation. In March 2024, the caregiver became the patient. Claudia—wife to Chris, 49, and mom and stepmom to a 5-year-old son and 25-year-old stepdaughter—was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Family history concerns lead to early diagnosis

Just six months before her diagnosis, Claudia had a mammogram. When the results came back negative—no cancer—she didn’t feel the expected sense of relief. Instead, something kept tugging at her intuition. For reasons she still can’t explain, she pushed for additional testing, reminding her doctor of her strong family history of breast cancer; her sister had been diagnosed in 2003.

Her primary care physician agreed to order a follow-up MRI, though it took six months to get insurance approval. After additional mammograms and an ultrasound, Claudia’s suspicion that something wasn’t right was correct.

Claudia underwent a surgical biopsy at the Touro Breast Cancer Center, which confirmed her greatest fear; she did, indeed, have breast cancer. Thankfully, the diagnosis was extremely early and Claudia knew she would get the best care available.

Finding comfort in care

Claudia consulted with Alfred Colfry, III, MD, a breast surgeon at Touro. Although she had never worked with him before, she said Dr. Colfry immediately put her at ease. Together, they reviewed her surgical options, and he reassured her that her cancer was low-grade and slow-growing.

Ultimately, Claudia chose to undergo an oncoplastic lumpectomy, a procedure that combines removing the cancerous tumor with plastic surgery techniques to help minimize visible deformities.

“Dr. Colfry is absolutely fantastic. He made me feel so comfortable. At the time when my husband and I were most vulnerable and scared, it was such a relief to know I had Dr. Colfry on my side,” Claudia said.

Together, they discussed her treatment plan.

“When you get a cancer diagnosis, every decision weighs on you heavily but you also have to make decisions fast,” Claudia said. “So much information is coming at you, so many appointments. It’s a lot. But the team at Touro was incredible. There’s no question about it—I was treated with the same supportive care and compassion that I give my own patients. That’s just the Touro way.”

Claudia cannot say enough wonderful things about Ellen Zakris, MD, her radiation oncologist, who helped her prepare for surgery and her radiation treatment plan. “She is so loving, and she knows exactly what she’s doing. She’s been a radiation oncologist for more than 20 years,” Claudia said. “She told me she would treat me as if I were her daughter. I knew I was in great hands with Dr. Zakris.”

Before surgery, Dr. Zakris, who Claudia also works with professionally, recommended rehab at the Touro Rehabilitation Center in New Orleans. “I regularly lift patients, and I hurt my back lifting a very heavy patient. Dr. Zakris thought it would be a good idea to get stronger before surgery.”

On May 16, 2024, Claudia underwent same-day surgery. Dr. Colfry performed the lumpectomy and John Guste, MD, an LCMC Health plastic surgeon, completed the cosmetic portion of the procedure during the same operation.

From radiation caregiver to radiation patient

From there, it became a bit of a waiting game, Claudia said. She was instructed to rest and heal, and began radiation treatment five weeks later. Seeking privacy, she chose to receive care at University Medical Center New Orleans, where she underwent four weeks of therapy totaling 20 treatments.

“The entire radiation oncology staff at University Medical Center was so kind,” Claudia said. “They knew I was going in somewhat embarrassed having to do this with my peers, but they made me feel incredibly comfortable with my decision to be treated there. That team was fantastic. I truly hope my patients feel the same way about the care I provide as I do about the care I received at University Medical Center.”

A reminder of what patients face

Following radiation, Claudia began taking oral medication, which she will continue to take for five years, and returned to work at Touro with a renewed outlook on her profession. Now in remission, Claudia reflects on the lessons she learned by stepping into the role of patient.

“Radiation therapy is what I do all day for others, and this time it was for me,” she said. “I was hyper-aware of everything and it was odd to see it from the patient’s view. So often patients ask me, ‘Is it going to hurt?’ In the past, I’ve always told them ‘No.’ Now I say “Everyone experiences radiation differently, but no matter what, I’ll be right here to help.”

To learn more about the Breast Care Center at Touro, visit:https://www.lcmchealth.org/touro/our-services/cancer-care/services/breast-cancer-care/

To learn more about radiation oncology at University Medical Center New Orleans, visit: https://www.lcmchealth.org/university-medical-center-new-orleans/our-services/cancer-center/

To learn more about radiation oncology at Touro LCMC Health, visit: https://www.lcmchealth.org/touro/our-services/cancer-care/services/radiation-therapy/