In August 2019, Laura Kemmerer was rushed to the emergency department with severe abdominal swelling and difficulty breathing. Within hours, she was diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer and given a very serious prognosis. Despite the uncertainty, she chose to move forward with determination and explore every possible option.

“I knew I had a difficult road ahead, but I also knew I wasn’t ready to stop fighting,” Laura said.

She was immediately connected with Dr. Jessica Thomes Pepin, a gynecologic oncologist with Minnesota Oncology. Her early care included surgery and chemotherapy, but her disease eventually recurred. Through this experience, she learned the importance of self-advocacy and to ask questions, seek second opinions, and explore all available treatment options, including clinical trials.

“Advocating for myself became one of the most important things I could do. No one knows your body like you do. You need to advocate, advocate, advocate,” she said.

Laura continued to see Dr. Thomes Pepin, who became a trusted partner throughout her journey. Dr. Thomes Pepin also worked closely with other providers who treated Laura over the years. According to Laura, Dr. Thomes Pepin’s surgical expertise, thoughtful approach, and openness to innovative treatments, including clinical trials, played a critical role in Laura’s care. She supported Laura’s decisions, encouraged exploration of trial options, and helped connect her to additional opportunities when needed.

“Dr. Thomes Pepin listened, she believed in exploring every option, and she never closed the door on what might be possible. She is like family to me. Everyone on her team is so kind and caring, and you don’t get that at every cancer center. I will forever be thankful for Dr. Thomes Pepin and her team,” said Laura.

Over the course of her treatment, Laura participated in multiple clinical trials, including targeted therapies and immunotherapy approaches. These trials provided access to promising new treatments before they were widely available and allowed for a more personalized approach based on her tumor biology.

Laura explains that clinical trials became a vital part of her care for several reasons, including they:

• Offered access to cutting-edge therapies, including targeted drugs and immunotherapy
• Provided additional options when standard treatments were no longer effective
• Included close monitoring by specialized research teams
• Gave her the opportunity to contribute to future advances in ovarian cancer care

Laura notes there are some important aspects of clinical trials that many people misunderstand:

• Patients in cancer trials are not “untreated.” Most cancer trials compare standard treatment plus a new therapy, or a new treatment against the best available standard treatment.
• Patients can leave a trial if it is not working or side effects become too difficult.
• Trials go through strict ethical and safety oversight.

Laura believes clinical trials played a significant role in extending her life and maintaining her quality of life. In several instances, trial treatments helped stabilize or reduce her cancer when other options were limited. “Each time one option ended, I looked for the next door. Trials helped open those doors,” she said.

“Laura has exceeded the life expectancy of her diagnosis,” said Dr. Thomes Pepin. “This is a testament of the value of clinical trials and Laura’s determination and faith in the process,” she said.

Laura says one of the most important lessons from her cancer journey is that patients need to play an active role in their care. Finding and enrolling in trials often requires persistence and research, but it can open doors to treatments that may not otherwise be available.

“My participation and personal choice to do trials is because I feel I was chosen for a greater purpose and it is my way of giving back with the hope of not only saving my life but so many other ovarian cancer sisters. Without patients doing trials these lifesaving drugs will not get approved, and I pray the trials will change the future of ovarian cancer and it will no longer be considered a deadly disease,” Larua explained. “Many of today’s ovarian cancer treatments only exist because previous patients like me participated in trials. Clinical research is the reason survival and treatment options have improved over time.”

Today, Laura continues to pursue innovative treatment approaches, including advanced immunotherapy and personalized therapies. Her journey has included setbacks, but also meaningful progress and much of it made possible through clinical research and a care team that supports innovation.

Laura shares her story to encourage others to ask about clinical trials and consider all available pathways in their care.

“I’m here today because I never stopped looking for what was next and because people were willing to push the boundaries of what’s possible.”