When Ed Murphy participated in the Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk in Brooklyn, New York, on September 29, he was not alone. Accompanying him were his doctors from Stony Brook Cancer Center: surgical oncologist Georgios V. Georgakis and medical oncologist Julie Anne L. Gemmill. Murphy credited them with saving his life during a challenging battle with pancreatic cancer.
For Murphy, the race symbolized his ongoing fight to remain positive through exercise after more than a year of chemotherapy, surgery, and recovery. Having his doctors run alongside him was particularly motivating.
Despite being an experienced marathon runner, Murphy had not anticipated joining the 2024 Tunnel to Towers event following his diagnosis with early-stage pancreatic cancer in Fall 2022. As a retired nurse from Stony Brook University Hospital's psychiatric unit, he opted for treatment at their Cancer Center. He initially underwent chemotherapy to prevent tumor growth.
“Given the tumor’s significant size and proximity to major vessels, he underwent a rigorous six-month chemotherapy course,” said Gemmill. “The first three months aimed to shrink the tumor for surgery, while the latter three eradicated any residual microscopic cancer cells. It was a difficult road, filled with ups and downs, but his courageous spirit and resilience never wavered.”
In March 2023, under Georgakis and Gemmill's care, Murphy had Whipple surgery to remove the tumor.
Murphy shared that even during hospitalization, he continued training by walking laps around the unit. "I think I broke the record for most laps walking on the unit," he remarked.
During a follow-up appointment when Murphy mentioned running in the Tunnel to Towers 5K, Georgakis turned to Gemmill and said they would join him.
“At first I thought they might be joking, but when they made it clear they meant it, I was impressed,” said Murphy. “It was a very nice gesture. We traveled into Brooklyn together and the race was fun. It was a patriotic event which made it even better.”
Further details are available on the Stony Brook Cancer Center website.