A life-changing encounter with a reckless skier dramatically altered Liz Healy’s life.
A trip to Vermont in 2022 resulted in severe pain for Healy, leading to an MRI that revealed some startling news: she had a sacral fracture and, more alarmingly, cancer. Initially diagnosed with stage 2 kidney cancer, further testing revealed stage 4 colon cancer, which had metastasized to her liver and lymph nodes.
“This journey has been incredibly tough for me,” said Healy, 49, expressing her struggle with vocal cord paralysis.
“The colorectal cancer has reached my bones—my hip, femur, shoulder, spine, and even my brain,” she shared. “I’ve had radiation therapy targeting both the bones and my brain.”
Despite the obstacles, this grandmother of three remains resilient; she’s gearing up to walk in the upcoming TCS New York City Marathon as part of the New York Road Runners Team Inspire and Fred’s Team, the running initiative affiliated with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Going the Distance
Healy was an avid marathon runner before her cancer diagnosis.
She completed the New York Marathon in 5 hours and 35 minutes back in 2006 when she was just 30. She also participated in the 42.2-mile Marine Corps Race and the Walt Disney World Race.
“Running a marathon lets you explore new cities, and it’s just a great experience overall,” she remarked.
When she was diagnosed with cancer, Healy had already registered for the New York City Marathon.
“I told my husband, ‘I’m going to do this.’ I’ll raise funds because every bit goes directly to cancer research—research that could save my life and many others,” she recalled.
“It became another form of medicine for me.”
A Long Road Ahead
Healy learned of her condition after being struck by a skier coming down a chairlift.
Looking back, she acknowledges there may have been warning signs.
“I was feeling bloated and experiencing more gas than usual,” she noted. “But my friends said they had similar issues, so I didn’t think much of it.”
Diagnosed at 45, the age when screening for colorectal cancer typically begins, Healy hadn’t prioritized getting a colonoscopy.
“We didn’t realize at that time how prevalent this disease was becoming among younger adults,” she explained. “I was busy being a mom and an executive. A colonoscopy just wasn’t on my radar.”
Colorectal cancer is projected to be the leading cause of cancer deaths in those under 50 by 2030, largely attributed to sedentary lifestyles, poor nutrition, and environmental factors, though the precise causes for the rise in young people remain uncertain.
The encouraging news is that precancerous polyps can be identified and removed during a colonoscopy, an essential step in preventing colon cancer.
Healy is now an advocate for this straightforward and painless procedure, stressing that it’s far less daunting than chemotherapy, one of the many treatments she has undergone.
Running on Hope
Shortly after her diagnosis, Healy underwent a grueling 10-hour surgery to remove cancer from her colon, lymph nodes, and liver, along with having a chemotherapy machine attached to her liver.
She’s had part of her kidney removed, undergone radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and even participated in a clinical trial.
Currently dealing with a series of challenges, Healy has experienced episodes of difficulty walking due to fatigue from her radiation treatments and complications from vocal cord paralysis, which led to pneumonia.
Despite everything, she hopes that crossing the marathon finish line will uplift her spirits.
“Completing a marathon and receiving that medal gives you a runner’s high that lasts for months—it’s as rewarding as chemotherapy or radiation,” she said.
Her favorite spot on the marathon route is Mile 17 along 1st Avenue, where patients, healthcare workers, and supporters cheer the runners on.
This moment serves to remind her of the patients fighting for their health in the hospital.
“I’ve been on the other side, longing to leave the hospital,” she reflected.
“Just being able to step outside, move my body—it’s a form of gratitude.”
An Ongoing Journey
Healy has been on a rigorous treatment schedule for the past three years.
In 2022, she and two friends finished the marathon in under eight hours.
The following year, her group expanded to four, and in 2024, nine joined her. Now, she hopes 40 of her friends will participate next year.
Thus far, she has raised over $157,000 for colorectal cancer research at MSK, while her team spreads awareness along the marathon route by handing out blue ribbons and screening information.
Healy was also honored to be part of Team Inspire, which highlights inspiring stories from 26 athletes during the marathon.
She asserts that her participation transforms pain into purpose.
“There are numerous elements of life I can’t control, but my involvement in this is empowering,” she added, noting the unpredictable nature of cancer.
Yet, she’s already making plans to gather 40 friends at the starting line next year.
