Stony Brook Cancer Center doctors went the extra ‘3.1 miles’ with their patient
When Ed Murphy stood at the starting line at the Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk in Brooklyn, New York on Sunday, Sept. 29, he knew he wouldn’t be going the distance alone. Ed was joined by his two doctors from Stony Brook Cancer Center, surgical oncologist Georgios V. Georgakis, MD, PhD, and medical oncologist Julie Anne L. Gemmill, DO. Ed said they kept him alive after a difficult battle with pancreatic cancer.
For Ed, participating in this race was a testament to the fact that after over a year of enduring chemotherapy, significant surgery and a slow recovery, he’s still fighting to stay positive through the power of exercise. But it was particularly inspiring for him to have his two doctors go the extra miles and run by his side.
Despite regularly participating in marathons and half marathons for many years, the 2024 Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk wasn’t one that Ed expected to join after he was diagnosed with an early-stage pancreatic cancer in fall 2022. As a registered nurse who worked in the psychiatric unit at Stony Brook University Hospital for 15 years before retiring in 2020, Ed didn’t hesitate to choose the Cancer Center team for his care. He first received chemotherapy to keep the tumor on his pancreas from growing.
“Given the tumor's significant size and proximity to major vessels, he underwent a rigorous six-month chemotherapy course,” said Dr. 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 the care of Drs. Georgakis and Gemmill, Ed had Whipple surgery to remove the tumor.
Though his treatment and recovery were sometimes exhausting, Ed said even when he was in the hospital, he pushed himself to keep training and moving. “I think I broke the record for most laps walking on the unit.”
When he was done with his wound care in May 2023, Ed started walking in his community. By December he was running, motivated by his two-year-old granddaughter and her library class who were raising money for Toys for Tots. He participated in their 5K just eight months after surgery.
“That race got me to look forward to doing things,” he said. “My best time precancer was 24 minutes. I did 35 minutes in the Toys for Tots event, and I was glad I did it.”
It was this determination to keep active that resonated with his physicians. At a follow-up surgical appointment, when he mentioned his plan to run the 5K, Dr. Georgakis turned to Dr. Gemmill and said, “We’re running this with him.”
“At first I thought they might be joking, but when they made it clear they meant it, I was impressed,” said Ed. “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.”
Ed said while his speed isn’t like it used to be, as a former runner he knows that exercise has to be part of his recovery. “Of course, my health is not up to par yet. I force myself to work out. It’s challenging and I have my ups and downs,” he said. “But the running is my therapy.”
“I’ve always wanted to participate in this event. I'm a veteran and a patriotic guy. Since it was only a 5K, I knew even if I had to walk it, I could still participate. For me the whole idea was getting there, starting and then finishing it.”
“Of course, we do everything humanly possible for all our patients. In Ed’s case, he brought up wanting to attend the Tunnels to Towers event and my colleague and I wanted to encourage and support him,” said Dr. Georgakis. “We were inspired by his fortitude and positivity, and we ended up sharing a mutual goal and enjoyed spending additional time with him in an exciting way. Now, I’m a runner!”
Ed has been through many challenges since 2023, but he is looking to the future, including training for the Cow Harbor 10K in September 2025.