Patient Stories

At the Stony Brook Cancer Center, personalized care is at the heart of everything we do. For us, it’s more than treatment — it’s about building lifelong relationships with our patients. These inspiring success stories showcase the strength of those we’ve cared for and the dedication that drives us to make every journey personal.

Oren Wiener, Cancer Thriver

Oren Wiener shares his story about being diagnosed and treated for a rare, aggressive blood cancer (acute lymphoblastic leukemia) at Stony Brook Cancer Center. Hematologist Oncologist Christina Lee, MD, explains Oren’s care began in the Emergency Department after he experienced excruciating pain that day. Once tests confirmed the diagnosis, treatment had to move at a quick pace for an optimal outcome, including a bone marrow transplant to eliminate any trace of the disease. Oren’s motivation to become cancer-free was to return to his wife and two daughters’ daily life with family-filled activities. He and his family are forever grateful for the extraordinary care he received.

Oren Wiener, Cancer Thriver
Ed Murphy

Cancer Survivor Joined by His Two Doctors for Tunnels to Towers 5K

Stony Brook Cancer Center’s surgical oncologist Georgios V. Georgakis, MD, PhD, and medical oncologist Julie Anne L. Gemmill, DO, wanted to support their patient, Ed Murphy, when he mentioned wanting to run in a NYC race. Together, they set off at the starting line in Brooklyn to complete the 3.1 miles of the annual Tunnels to Towers race that ends in NYC. Ed is extremely grateful to his doctors for keeping him alive through a difficult battle with pancreatic cancer, but also for joining him for a fun and memorable event to lift his spirits.

Watch Ed Murphy’s Story
Leonard Nussbaum holding his personalized green golf shirt.

Leonard Shares His Story

Leonard Nussbaum could not wait to give his testimony about what a great experience he had as a patient of Deborah Nagle, MD, Chief, Colon and Rectal Surgery, and her team, at Stony Brook Cancer Center, part of Stony Brook Medicine. Beyond her skill as a clinician, Leonard praised her compassion toward him and his family during his illness and recovery. They continue to have a close bond.

Grateful Patient: Leonard Nussbaum Video
Christine Strovink

Christine Shares Her Story

As a patient of Stony Brook Cancer Center, Christine is grateful for the excellent care she received from surgical oncologist Georgios Georgakis, MD, PhD, and his team with the hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) procedure. She explains how this has positively impacted her life and that of her family.

Patient Testimonial: Cancer Survivor Christine Strovink
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