100th Treatment: A Cancer Journey at West Jefferson Medical Center

Nurses and Doctors Stand by Barbara Through 20+ Years of Cancer Care

This October, as the world observes Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Barbara Savoy, 80, marks an incredible milestone: her 100th systemic treatment at West Jefferson Medical Center's Cancer Center in Marrero, La.

For Barbara, this moment isn’t about cancer or chemotherapy — it’s about gratitude. Through tears, she shared her deep appreciation for every doctor and nurse at West Jefferson, as well as the unwavering support of her family, friends, pastor, and parish community at St. John Paul II Catholic Church in Waggaman, La. These are the people, she said, who have stood by her throughout her two-decade cancer journey — and continue to do so today.

An Annual Mammogram Changed Everything

Barbara’s journey began in November 2004: 21 years ago.

Like she did every year, she went in for her routine mammogram. She took it in stride, maybe even for granted. She thought that staying on top of her routine screenings would somehow guard against the cancer it was checking for.

But this particular year, something wasn’t right. She received a call from her primary doctor near her home in Avondale, La. The message was urgent; go back to the radiology center right away for an ultrasound.

Barbara did as requested, thinking nothing of it. “I was sure it was nothing,” she said.

She was wrong.

Two ultrasounds confirmed it: she had breast cancer. It was a small mass in her left breast. Barbara remembers the moment clearly. “I was in denial,” she said. “I thought, no way—it can’t be me.”

The Shock of a Cancer Diagnosis

Barbara was referred to now-retired surgeon Emery Minnard, MD, at West Jefferson. Within weeks, Dr. Minnard performed a lumpectomy, a surgery where only the tumor and a small area around it are removed. At first, he thought it might not be cancer, but biopsy results confirmed otherwise. Because the “margins” (the healthy tissue surrounding the tumor) weren’t completely clear, she needed a second surgery.

Finally, the breast cancer was fully removed and, thankfully, tests showed the cancer had not spread elsewhere in her body.

When they got that news, Barbara and her late husband of 59 years, John, thought the ordeal was over. Unfortunately, Barbara’s journey at West Jefferson’s Cancer Center had just begun.

She was referred to now-retired oncologist Milton Seiler, MD, who explained chemotherapy to the couple. “He said I was going to need strong medicine that kills cancer cells. I’ll admit it; I resisted the chemotherapy at first. I knew that people who get chemo lose their hair and I didn’t want that,” she said. “Dr. Seiler said I would be fine and that chemotherapy was my best choice for a healthy life. So I said I would do it.”

Treatment, Setbacks, and Strength

Barbara underwent chemotherapy two to three times a week for a long time. It’s so long ago, she said, she can’t even remember how many weeks she had to make the half-hour drive from her home to the Cancer Center at West Jefferson.

What she does remember is that her beloved husband, John, was always by her side. He drove her to and from every appointment, sat with her through the long hours of treatment, and stayed up with her through the even longer nights when she battled the side effects of chemotherapy.

“And, yes, I did lose my hair which I didn’t like at all,” Barbara said. “But Dr. Seiler was right. It grew back and, in fact, it looked beautiful by the end of 2005. I had my hair back and, this time, I really thought my healthcare journey was over.”

Unfortunately, that wasn’t to be. In 2008, she began having chest pains. Thinking it was her heart, she visited a cardiologist. Instead, tests revealed the cancer had returned, this time in her lungs and bones. “I just couldn’t believe it. I had been taking tamoxifen for four years. I had been counting down the years until I could stop taking it,” she recalled.

Tamoxifen is a medicine that inhibits the growth of cancer cells. Often, patients take it for five years before they are considered officially cancer-free.

“I only had one year to go, but new tumors developed in my chest,” Barbara said. “I had to have more surgery and more chemotherapy. This time, at least, I didn’t care as much about hair loss. I wore wigs!”

Again, she went through all the chemotherapy protocols and got back to living her life. Her family lived all around the country, except for one brother who lives locally and her only child, Arnold, who was married. He and his wife lived nearby and they saw each other often. It was 2009, five years since her first cancer diagnosis, and she felt good. She was ready to put cancer behind her – again.

Not so fast; Time for round 3

Only a couple of years later, in 2011, doctors discovered the cancer had spread to her sternum. She required chest reconstruction surgery, where surgeons used mesh to strengthen the chest wall after removing diseased tissue.

She refused to go anywhere but West Jefferson for her medical care. Even though her doctors kept retiring, they were always replaced with caring supportive physicians who promised they would get her through it.

Living With Cancer and Finding Support

Since 2011, Barbara has been on maintenance systemic treatment—tailored endocrine therapy to her specific type of breast cancer. Elizabeth S. Ellent, MD, her oncologist at West Jefferson, oversees her care. And, beyond cancer, when Barbara developed an iron deficiency in 2024, Dr. Ellent promised to see her through her iron infusions, as well.

On October 15, 2025, she will receive her 100th systemic treatment. Though she has officially been in remission since 2011, her doctors believe the ongoing therapy is keeping the disease under control.

“I would rather keep getting the treatments than have to get cancer again,” Barbara said. “And I don’t care about my hair loss anymore. I have plenty of cute hats.”

The past 20+ years have been far from easy for Barbara, but not only because of her recurring battles with cancer. Her only son was murdered at age 56 on Christmas Eve 2020 and her husband died in 2023.

“The doctors and nurses were there for me not just as a patient but as a person,” she said. “They cared about me when my family was gone.”

Her circle of support also includes her daughter-in-law, Therese, and even a 92-year-old neighbor who cooks and shops for her. One of her greatest wishes is to see New York City, a place she has always heard about but never got to visit.

Gratitude for Doctors and Nurses at West Jefferson

Barbara is quick to name those she appreciates most. “I want to thank all the doctors who have been involved in my care,” she said. “Through this journey I prayed for them. I have prayed that God would bless them with the wisdom to make good decisions and the strength to care for their patients.”

She speaks warmly of her nurses, including Deanna Miller, Brandy C., and Brandy H., describing them as kind, patient, and loving. “It takes special people to be in the medical field,” Barbara said. “In some places, doctors rush you in and out. Not here. At West Jefferson, they walk the extra mile.”

A Message for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Barbara hopes her story inspires others to stay on top of their health and to appreciate the care they receive. “Cancer is a family disease,” she said. “You need help, and every little thing someone does makes a difference.”

This October, she is especially thankful. “I like to let people know they are appreciated and loved,” she said. “We are only here for a short while. You have to show your gratitude.”

For more information about oncology care at West Jefferson Medical Center Cancer Center, please visit: https://www.lcmchealth.org/west-jefferson-medical-center/our-services/cancer-center/