In 2019, Susan Stewart was diagnosed with stage 4 endometrial uterine cancer and given six months to live. Six months later, after enrolling in a clinical trial involving the use of an immunotherapy treatment, Stewart’s cancer was greatly reduced.

When the cancer started growing again a few months later, the information gained from her participation in the trial led UAB Medicine gynecologic oncologist Warner Huh, M.D., senior scientist at the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB, to recommend a different immunotherapy. That “educated guess,” as Stewart calls it, also worked, and she is in remission currently.

“By being in the clinical trial, I benefited twice,” Stewart said. “First was the great reduction in my cancer from the treatment. The second was when it informed Dr. Huh’s decision to put me on a certain immunotherapy. Enrollment into the trial was a gift that changed the course of my life.”

By being in the clinical trial, I benefited twice. First was the great reduction in my cancer from the treatment. The second was when it informed Dr. Huh’s decision to put me on a certain immunotherapy. Enrollment into the trial was a gift that changed the course of my life.

Susan Stewart

Stewart says the parameters of the initial clinical trial “seemed to be written specifically for my cancer,” and Dr. Huh agrees with that assessment.

“To have a trial that fits her rare type of cancer was really uncommon,” Dr. Huh said. “I thought it was an enormous opportunity for her to have access to this type of therapy right here in Alabama. She’s not in the trial anymore, but it was a huge stepping stone for getting her to where she needs to be. She currently has an extraordinarily well-controlled cancer.”

Because of the dire prognosis Stewart received in 2019, she was not hesitant about participating in a clinical trial. In fact, she thought it was a wonderful opportunity.

“My husband and I were thrilled for me to be enrolled in that,” Stewart said. “It meant I was going to be getting state-of-the-art treatment that would be less harsh than conventional chemo. It meant that the health benefits and side effects would be closely monitored. And I was going to be participating in something that others may benefit from.”

Indeed, the nature of clinical trials means that patients are closely observed and monitored, helping ensure that the level of care is not reduced.

“We pay such close attention to the patients in terms of how they’re tolerating the drug and the therapy, making sure they’re responding well,” Dr. Huh said. “This process was transformative for her in terms of her overall clinical experience. When it came to improving her quality of life, the trial afforded her things that I don’t think she could’ve wrapped her mind around at the beginning.”

Stewart’s mind is much more at ease now, as she has experienced firsthand the benefits of clinical trials and the care provided at UAB Medicine.

“The UAB Medicine Oncology Clinic is superior, bar none,” Stewart said. “Not only was I being treated, but I was also educated on which symptoms are serious, which aren’t, and how to manage the symptoms. You learn how to take care of yourself with cancer. Instead of just treating the illness while you’re there, they are also treating the patient and the family in an ongoing collaboration.”