Take that Cancer, You Big Jerk: How Clinical Trials Saved Me

Paul Wormser (right) shares his story of being diagnosed with prostate cancer and the experience of receiving innovative treatment in a clinical trial during Clinical Trials Patient Appreciation Day at Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health. Photo credit: Leslie Aquinde, UC San Diego Health

While sitting in the Moores Cancer Center auditorium at UC San Diego Health for the 2025 Clinical Trials Patient Appreciation Day, I was surrounded by medical teams, colleagues, community members and patients. I immediately connected with a patient, Paul Wormser, who was sitting next to me. There is an unspoken bond when you meet others who have gone through a cancer diagnosis. You are part of a club you never wanted to join — yet find deep meaning in the membership.    

Wormser and I were part of an eight-patient panel chosen to share our experiences about participating in clinical trials. As we talked about our journeys before the event started, we both teared up. My mascara started to smear before I even made my way up to the stage.    

Wormser was treated for prostate cancer and I was treated for breast cancer. Our stories were different chapters of a similar book.   

Chapter one for me started approximately eight years ago when I felt an enlarged lymph node in my armpit area. My intuition was screaming at me, and I listened. Never ignore that feeling. You hear that in the back row scrolling your phone? I made a doctor’s appointment the next day.    

I was diagnosed with an aggressive breast cancer that had already spread to my lymph nodes. I was age 39. My sons were 5 and 2. Suddenly, my life went from the chaos of trying to survive being a busy working mom to the chaos of trying to survive breast cancer.    

There were sleepless nights, buckets of tears, and an aching pit in my stomach. Getting a cancer diagnosis is terrifying. It is an emotional roller coaster only those who have been through it truly understand. Wormser and the other patients on the panel understood.    

Cancer does not discriminate. It doesn’t care about your age, job, life circumstances, gender, or future plans. The eight of us came from different backgrounds, but cancer brought us together on that stage to share our stories with an audience of approximately 250.    

Being a mom and a breast cancer survivor are two of my identities. I am also the director of media relations for UC San Diego Health. I promote the services, care and treatment provided by our incredible health system. I have enough knowledge about nearly all conditions and diseases to be extremely vigilant about my own health, and at times, it makes me a bit of a hypochondriac — it’s a fine line.

Michelle Brubaker was diagnosed with an aggressive type of breast cancer in 2017. She underwent chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, radiation, reconstruction and a hysterectomy. Photo courtesy of Michelle Brubaker

As part of my role, I have the honor of highlighting inspiring patient stories. I have observed surgeries, seen babies born weighing less than a pound, celebrated milestones in hospital rooms and held the hands of individuals who have faced their darkest days, as well as overcome remarkable odds. 

But in February 2017, the roles reversed, and I became a patient who needed her hand held. I walked through the doors of our hospital looking through a new lens. I was given information about a clinical trial during the first appointment with my medical oncologist. My breast cancer type and stage qualified me. It didn’t take long for my husband and I to decide I was going to enroll. I was a mom on a mission. I was going to see my kids grow up. I needed to be armed with all the necessary equipment if I was going to kick cancer’s butt, which I planned to do.

As a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health is among the top 4% of approximately 1,500 cancer centers in the nation. Patients have access to physicians who provide personalized care and are setting treatment standards nationwide for more than 200 types of cancer. UC San Diego Health is repeatedly ranked among the top 50 in the nation for cancer care by U.S. News & World Report. 

"We are expanding our clinical trial operations to provide faster and better access at multiple sites across our community. We are bringing together physicians and researchers from across our system and nation to work collaboratively to reach better outcomes in a unique and rich scientific environment," said Diane Simeone, MD, director of Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health and host of the Clinical Trials Patient Appreciation Day. 

"Innovation is central to all we do. What sets us apart in the region is that we are involved in the design and execution of leading-edge clinical trials that bring promising new treatments directly to our patients." 

Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health is projected to enroll nearly 700 patients on to clinical trials in 2025, a 59% increase over the number enrolled in 2024 and a 141% increase over the 290 patient participants in 2023. 

I enrolled in two clinical trials during my treatment. The first trial was during the chemotherapy portion. I took four pills daily along with a chemotherapy regimen to investigate how my type of breast cancer reacted to this novel treatment combination. During the second trial, I received proton therapy instead of standard radiation to study if the proton therapy for breast cancer can reduce damage to neighboring healthy tissue, like the heart and lungs.

Michelle was one of eight patients who shared their stories and experiences to educate and bring hope, encouragement and inspiration to the audience of approximately 250. Kyle Dykes, UC San Diego

Wormser took daily pills and quarterly shots of an investigational drug during his trial. He shared during the patient panel that he had some side effects, like hot flashes, and he and I realized through laughter that we had something else in common at this stage of life.    

"I left each appointment with gratitude for the entire medical team and all of the staff, gratitude for being in the trial and gratitude for my family," Wormser said.     

Wormser received additional scans that he would not have had access to if not for the trial he was enrolled in. Two weeks before his surgery, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed his prostate was 40% smaller than when he was diagnosed. After a year of treatment, including a radical prostatectomy, Wormser’s PSA number is now undetectable, indicative of his cancer being in remission.    

"I want to recognize everyone who secures funding for trials, conducts trials and improves lives so I can continue to be with my beautiful wife of 42 years and our daughters. I am now a grandpa and embrace every second in that role," said Wormser.    

This sentiment was shared by all patients on the panel for Clinical Trials Patient Appreciation Day. Emotions rolled over the auditorium like a tsunami as the audience heard personal stories from patients who were treated for a variety of cancers, like brain, skin, tongue and ovarian.    

It was an opportunity to educate and provide encouragement. I was profoundly touched by my fellow panelists and seeing hospital leadership and medical teams wipe tears from their cheeks.

September will be eight years Michelle is considered breast-cancer free. She continues to publicly share her story to different audiences to raise awareness. Photo credit: Katherine Beth Photography

Eskander and McKay moderated the event, and both had patients on the panel. 

"It is so impactful and inspiring for all of our teams to hear from the patients we care for," said Eskander, gynecologic oncologist at UC San Diego Health. "This event allowed us to recognize the significance of clinical trials and honor all patients who receive a cancer diagnosis — those we are now in remission, those who are still receiving treatment and those who have passed."

McKay and Wormser tightly embraced each other when the event was over. It was a beautiful example of the special relationship between the patient and their doctor.

"The patients’ willingness to share their experiences and advocate for clinical trials contributed to this meaningful event. Their courage and commitment are helping others better understand clinical trials and the importance of participation," McKay said. 

One of the most touching moments for me happened the day after the event.

A patient with stage 4 colon cancer who had been in the audience sent me an email. He said the event changed his views on clinical trials, and he now sees that they are an important option to consider. He went on to share that one of the biggest gifts he has received through his cancer experience is growing closer to his brother. 

"We never told each other ‘I love you’, and now it’s a regular occurrence," he wrote.