Hockey Fights Cancer Personal for Kings VP

"When I got diagnosed, I made a commitment to sharing progress and stories throughout the whole experience, so I can help other people. The only thing that calmed me down was that I knew people who had been through various types of cancer, even if it wasn't the same kind of cancer. That's why I share my story."
Kings Vice President of Marketing and Creative, Andrea Murphy, was 38 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. To be specific, her diagnosis was ER+ HER2+ and it came much earlier in her life than one would normally expect to receive that information. You never expect to get that news, but it certainly came earlier than she could have imagined.
That's why awareness is so important to her.

She was diligent on her own throughout her adult life, but not everyone is. Before the age of 40, it's not something that every doctor is looking for.
"People are getting cancer] younger and younger and to work a full-time job, have kids who are 5 and 2, be a wife and have cancer, the support groups aren't always accessible," she said. "Social media, I think, has helped to create a support system and it's why I've been vocal about it, so someone who is younger and diagnosed doesn't feel alone."
Murphy said she followed her gut and after hearing from one doctor that the mass she felt was "likely okay" she went to see a specialist who had been monitoring her for 20 years just to be sure. She remembers the date vividly, though.
September 13, 2021 was the day she got the call with her diagnosis. Exactly two weeks later, she began her chemotherapy treatments. The start of a long process was three-week increments of chemo, with six rounds in total, followed by a double mastectomy surgery in early 2022, and in April she took a new job with the Kings, moving from Sony Pictures to head up the organization's initiatives when it came to marketing, digital and creative content.
That didn't mean the cancer process ended, though. Far from it.
Beginning in May, just a couple of weeks after starting with the Kings, she began 25 days of radiation and an additional 14 rounds of chemo. With two surgeries remaining, things are not fully back to normal -this conversation came DURING a chemo appointment - but they're certainly trending the right way. As she continues to go through the process, she's written a manual, if you will, to hopefully help others in need as they begin the same steps themselves.
"The internet has some scary stuff and when you're really sick, it's hard to figure out how to best ease your side effects," she said. "Facebook groups have been helpful, but I made a document with each step of what I've been through and what worked for me, what helped me to feel better. Whenever someone reaches out, I email it out and hopefully it helps them."
Now, working for an NHL club, Hockey Fights Cancer is an important night for her, both personally and professionally.
From a team point of view, HFC is a huge charity initiative for the Kings. It's a night when the team wears specialty warmup jerseys that are then signed and auctioned off by the Kings Care Foundation. Since the inception of the Hockey Fights Cancer initiative, more than $32 million has been raised as a result.
Personally, the ties go well beyond the impact made across two countries and from 32 teams. It hits close to home.
"Purple is the universal color for cancer and the NHL is raising awareness generally for all types of cancer, which makes it more inclusive," she added. "I love the 'I Fight For' signs, because it's about the person, it doesn't matter what kind of cancer you had. It doesn't feel like a fad, it feels like a movement."
A movement all Kings fans can get behind.
The Kings will host Hockey Fights Cancer Night on Saturday, November 12, as they host the Detroit Red Wings at 7:30 PM from Crypto.com Arena. The Kings and Kings Care Foundation are honored to take part in an NHL-wide initiative to celebrate Hockey Fights Cancer Month. Donations raised from the initiative, which include warmup jerseys worn and signed by the players, will benefit the American Cancer Society.
A ticket pack, including an HFC hat, is available
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