Realtor Murphy uses faith, medicine and diet to overcome cancer

Being an active, healthy person does not immediately remove the risk of illness. It is a well-known saying that death and illness are not respecters of people. Once diagnosed with a significant form of an illness, such as cancer, some are able to overcome it with a change in their diet and lifestyle. Others still need the additional support of an oncologist, who with a staff of medical experts, are able to beat back cancer through a variety of treatments. One of the greatest tools to help fight such an illness is a person’s tenacity and ability to push forward, despite feeling unwell.

Such is the case of Chris Murphy, a Fallbrook Realtor who has been known as a family man, a fair businessman, and an individual proud to serve his community. In 2010, he was at the pinnacle of business busy-ness, but he and his wife, Kim, were able to sneak away to a vacation in Lake Tahoe. It was during that vacation that Murphy’s life began to change.

When Kim pointed out a small growth on his back, he didn’t think anything of it. He was more concerned with small flecks on his face, which had recently popped up. Murphy figured that he would get the growth burned off at his dermatologist’s office for vanity purposes.

However, once Dr. Joseph Samady saw the growth and took a biopsy sample in January 2011, things changed quickly for Murphy.

“The doctor’s nurse called me and asked if I could see him that day,” said Murphy. “I remember it was a Tuesday because we had Rotary, and I was booked the whole day. The nurse asked when my last appointment was, and told me the doctor would wait for me.”

Samady’s nurse also asked that Kim also come to the appointment.

At this point, Murphy figured he had melanoma, but the doctor explained it was more than that.

“He explained that it was one of the most deadly forms of cancer known,” said Murphy. “It’s an extremely rare form of melanoma that is found only in Europeans. This type of melanoma has no pigment, and doesn’t follow the melanoma description.”

Murphy was referred to an oncologist in Encinitas, Edward McClay, who facilitated surgery on the cancer. During surgery, the melanoma was removed, but Murphy would still need to go through chemotherapy. The doctor explained that the skin damage from being a child outside, without sunscreen on, was the culprit.

“The doctor sat down with me and went through the methods that he could offer,” said Murphy. “We went with the most expensive method, but McClay let me know that I would have to do some work on my own; it wasn’t just about the medicine and chemo.”

McClay told Murphy to exercise daily, working up a sweat by walking. Six days a week, Kim would take Murphy for a walk with their golden retriever, Pancho.

“I would sweat bullets, but I needed to so that I could get out the poison from the chemo,” said Murphy, who needed to avoid the gym because of possible germ risk. “I had to train as if I were running a marathon – I did isometrics to tone my muscles.”

The second important element that Murphy needed to carefully watch was his diet. Murphy had to eat clean foods.

“I googled foods to fight cancer and bought a juicer,” said Murphy. “Every morning I would drink a tumbler of juice.”

Through the chemo treatment, Murphy found that he didn’t lose weight, nor did he lose his hair. He had days of weakness after immune system booster shots required for his treatments, and though he didn’t feel well, he would faithfully go on his daily walk.

“The injections were painful, and it was hard to get out of bed the day after receiving them,” said Murphy. “I would still get up, and by doing that, I fought off neuropathy in my feet.”

By July 2011, Murphy was ready for his final checkup, and his oncologist was floored by his results.

“He was stunned that I looked so well,” said Murphy. “He told me that he would have triatheletes go through the same regimen and not have the same color and spirit. I told him I simply did everything he asked me to do.”

Today, Murphy still goes on daily walks with Pancho and a new golden retriever, Cisco. Upon reflection, Murphy has found that he began to slowly improve his life during his treatment, meeting his bucket list goals.

“I had been subconsciously achieving these goals,” said Murphy. “For example, five years ago, we didn’t own our own brokerage, and now we are on our fourth year. The doctor said it was smart for those with illness to make long-term goals. One goal I’m working on is golfing on every continent.”

Murphy knows that his wife, Kim, was a large support to him, especially during chemo. In addition to walking with him daily, she shouldered most of the work while Murphy recovered.

In the past five years after cancer, Murphy has learned that a person’s attitude in a life circumstance defines the experience.

Around the same time that Murphy was diagnosed with cancer, three of his male friends and one female friend were diagnosed with cancer as well. Each tried a different type of treatment to combat the illness. All of his male friends that were diagnosed passed away within two years of diagnosis. The female friend died last year.

“I have a new appreciation of life,” said Murphy. “I really do believe that faith in God got me through.”