The Story of Jenny Braun

Jenny Braun was guided to Providence Saint John’s Health Center by her son Ben, a fireman who had experienced the hospital’s excellent emergency care over the years. She was impressed by the hospital’s team approach, patient-centered care and innovative procedures like Oncoplastic Surgery and Intraoperative Radiation Therapy. The personalized care she received, including sympathetic adjustments to her medication to prioritize her quality of life, left her and her family feeling more confident about her care than ever before.

Q: How did you learn about Saint John’s?

Jenny: We have two sons, both of which are firemen. My eldest works for LA County and my youngest son works for Santa Monica. He was the one that really turned me on to Saint John’s because there are a couple of different hospitals in the area that firemen respond to with emergency calls, and Saint John’s was on that list.

Q: What stood out to him about Saint John’s?

Jenny: First, they deeply appreciate the outside emergency help that comes in. They give them a lot of respect. They hear them. They want to know what it is that they saw out in the field, so it helps them better address the needs of the patient. My son and his team love the overall approach and how everything is patient-centered.

Q: And how did he help guide you to Providence Saint John’s Health Center?

Jenny: I started with breast cancer about 25 years ago. It was my first go through with it, but thankfully it was caught early. Now this is my third bout of cancer. And my son Ben said, ‘Saint John’s is the best. You need to come out here. You’re going to love it.’

Q: How could you say no to your son?

Jenny: He couldn’t have been more impressed, and that’s when I met Dr. Fancher and Dr. Peddi. And he was right, I was so happy. I’m telling you what, they fixed me up better than the original surgeon did 25 years ago from a different hospital.

Q: Did something stand out that felt unique with Drs. Crystal Fancher and Parvin Peddi and their team?

Jenny: When we met, I loved the team approach. You go there on a single day, they have three doctors dedicated to you. You don’t switch around from doctor to doctor, they are the whole team. The camaraderie and the professionalism of Dr. Fancher working with everyone to come up with the best care for me personally, I’ve never had that before.

"With Jenny, I went over the percentage of cancer recurrence with and without treatment for exactly the cancer she had. We discussed that from the perspective of her side effects. Our conversations empowered Jenny to make a decision that was right for her." 

- Parvin Peddi, MD, Director of Breast Medical Oncology, Margie Petersen Breast Center

Q: How about the overall experience? Was there anything that really stood out?

Jenny: Everybody is always so friendly and so approachable. I think just the way everything flows. There’s never a question, you’re not confused when you get there. They have someone in charge of your entire schedule and journey. I think they’re called a Nurse Navigator? She really held my hand. I kept telling her how wonderful she was to me. I had to drop something off once, and she ran outside to grab it from my car. Just so sweet.

“The camaraderie and the professionalism of the doctors working together to come up with the best care for me personally, I’ve never had that before.”

- Jenny Braun

Q: Did it feel like you were getting access to the newest approaches?

Jenny: Yes, absolutely. I had never heard of Oncoplastic Surgery before. It was entirely new to me. Intraoperative Radiation Therapy was not something I had ever come across. These procedures were completely unfamiliar. Compared to other places that followed standard and regular practices, this felt truly unique and special. It felt set apart from the rest.

Q: Can you give an example of how it was personalized for you?

Jenny: Of course. I was having some issues after my surgery with medication. I just could not ever get my energy back. It was a whole change of life thing. So, they took me off my medication and said ‘We’re going to keep you on surveillance. We’re going to watch you. We’re going to be with you through every step. We’re not going to let you ever feel unheld.’ They didn’t make me feel guilty that I’m not taking the medication. They have another way forward. If I needed more explanation they were more than happy to extend that to me and my husband. They’re just very committed to the best possible patient care and that, to me, has been wonderful.

Q: You took a recommendation from your son and it sounds like your husband was also very involved in these decisions, so how is everyone feeling now?

Jenny: They are all very happy and supportive of the situation. We have a group text to keep everyone updated and informed, and they know that I feel well cared for at Saint John’s and that I have a reliable place and team to reach out to whenever needed. This kind of support and communication is something I’ve never experienced with any other doctor, and it has given us all a lot of confidence.

"Jenny comes from a family of fighters. Her husband and her sons are firemen. So it wasn’t a surprise to us to see her being a strong fighter against cancer. It is an honor and a pleasure for our team to care for her and help her live a long and healthy life."

- Crystal E. Fancher, MD, Surgical Breast Oncologist, Margie Petersen Breast Center

Q: Were your sons involved in fighting the LA fires and protecting the community in January 2025?

Jenny: My eldest was at a camp station up in Malibu, and I don’t know how they made it up there. They were up there defending the camp. They unfortunately lost a couple of buildings, but they were able to stay up there and fight. Their team was there for 12 days in a row. Our youngest was at the station because they sent out strike teams, and he had to stay back and protect the city and be available for emergency calls. We had all the grandkids and brought them to the station to see their dad. And, of course, we were home watching the fire coverage on the TV 24/7. My husband has a scanner, so he was staying on top of what the boys were doing. Once you’re a fireman, always a fireman. We’re just really proud of them.

Q: How close is everyone in your family since they all are firemen?

Jenny: Very close. Both the boys followed in my husband’s footsteps. He still kind of scratches his head, because he never brought the job home. He just told the boys whatever it is that you want to do, make sure to love what you do because it’s a long life doing it. I just love to see their leadership style. I see their dad in them and it’s really pretty neat. We go into the fire stations to see how they’re doing. And even though my husband is retired, we love to go and hang out there with the guys. Before I went in for surgery, they all invited us for dinner and then they had this special cake made. They surrounded me with their love and support and it was just so kind. So yeah, a good family in that way because it’s extended into the fire families as well.

April 2025