This past Father's Day was the first one without my Dad*, who died from lung cancer on April 24. I'm swimming in mixed feelings about my Dad dying. I was driving to see him—3.5 hours into an eight-hour trip—when my stepmother texted me that he had died. (Yep. She didn't call; she texted.) As I entered Memphis, I turned the car around and went home.

Now, I've lost seven family members to five different types of cancer: bone, breast, lung, head/neck, and liver cancer or HCC.

A new qualitative study published on medRxiv offers critical insights into the lived experiences of patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of primary liver cancer. The research highlights the numerous barriers these patients face, including delayed diagnoses, fragmented care, social stigma, and financial hardship.

Conducted by Michelle Liu and Matthew Loxton of the Blue Faery, the study introduces a novel three-part measurement framework to better understand patient experiences. Key areas identified include the role of patient education and self-advocacy, the use of medical records in care navigation, and the availability of integrated support services such as dietitians, palliative care providers, and mental health counselors.

Patient advocates provide support, education, prevention, treatment, care, and more, especially for the poor, marginalized, and underinsured.

In this micro learning, developed by experts Assoc. Prof. Lorenza Rimassa and Dr Amit Singal, you will learn about treatment strategies for patients who are ineligible for immunotherapy (IO) or those with progression on IO in advanced HCC.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common malignancy and the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Contemporary advances in systemic and locoregional therapies have led to changes in peer-reviewed guidelines regarding systemic therapy as well as the possibility of downstaging disease that may enable some patients with advanced disease to ultimately undergo partial hepatectomy or transplantation with curative intent.

May is Hepatitis Awareness Month, and at Blue Faery, this month carries deep, personal meaning. My sister, Adrienne Wilson, was diagnosed with both chronic hepatitis B and C—infections she likely contracted as an infant. We didn't know Adrienne had either virus until she was diagnosed with primary liver cancer at age 15. She died within 147 days.

Adrienne’s story is a powerful reminder of how hepatitis can quietly damage the liver for years before symptoms appear. Most people with chronic hepatitis don’t even know they have it—until it’s too late.

This May, Blue Faery: The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association proudly continues its award-winning Love Your Liver campaign, now in its fifth consecutive year. This life-saving, culturally tailored initiative raises awareness about liver cancer risk factors impacting Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities.

Asian Americans are twice as likely as White Americans to be infected with chronic hepatitis B, the leading cause of liver cancer in this population. Foreign-born Asian Americans face even higher risks. The lack of early symptoms, coupled with language, stigma, and access barriers, makes liver cancer one of the most significant health disparities in this community.

In this micro learning developed by experts Prof. Aiwu Ruth He and Prof. Beau Toskich, you’ll learn about the expanding role of immunotherapy (IO) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and treatment strategies of combining it with locoregional therapy (LRT) for patients with intermediate HCC.

In this episode of The Tragedy Academy Podcast, Jay speaks with Andrea Wilson Woods, author, patient advocate, and founder of Blue Faery: The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association. Andrea shares the harrowing, heart-opening story of raising her sister from childhood through a terminal liver cancer diagnosis, and how that experience became the catalyst for lifelong advocacy and education. 🎙️
Andrea’s story is not just one of loss — it’s one of legacy. At just 22, she became the legal guardian of her 8-year-old sister Adrienne, raising her through the chaos of addiction and dysfunction. When Adrienne was diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer and passed away at 15, Andrea didn’t turn away — she turned purpose into motion. From starting a nonprofit in her sister’s name to translating reams of medical data into life-saving layman’s terms, her story is one of fierce love, resilience, and patient-centered revolution. 💛
Jay brings his signature blend of compassion, insight, and lived experience to this raw, honest conversation about family roles, medical burnout, and the importance of agency in the healthcare system. Whether you’re navigating grief, caregiving, or simply trying to understand better how to support those who are — this episode will move you.

In 2002, Andrea founded Blue Faery: The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association after losing her 15-year-old sister Adrienne, whom she raised for seven years, to stage IV liver cancer. As a patient advocate, Andrea has served on many committees and advisory boards, including NCI’s Hepatobiliary Task Force, Target Pharma Solutions HCC Advisory Board, ASCO’s Systemic Therapy for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Guideline Panel, Mayo Clinic Hepatobiliary SPORE, and the DOD Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program. Andrea represents Blue Faery as a member of AASLD, ASCO, Deadliest Cancers Coalition, and GI Cancers Alliance. Currently, Andrea is the only American serving on the Canadian Cancer Survivor Network’s Liver Cancer Advisory Council.

Andrea has received numerous scholarships to attend conferences around the country to tell her story, increase her knowledge, advocate for more funding, and continue her professional development. Organizations that have granted scholarships/sponsorships include Academy Health, American Association for Cancer Research, American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Liver Foundation, Caring Ambassadors, Conquer Cancer Foundation, National Comprehensive Cancer Network, National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable, and more.

We’re thrilled to announce the winner of this year’s Blue Faery Award for Excellence in Liver Cancer Research: Dr. Mark Yarchoan from Johns Hopkins. Dr. Yarchoan's groundbreaking work in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is pushing the boundaries of research and offering new hope to patients and families everywhere. Please join us in celebrating this important recognition!

Next up: Love Your Liver during AAPI Month. We're honored to have Dr. Daneng Li from City of Hope give a virtual presentation in English and Chinese about the risk of HCC to Chinese Americans and how they can mitigate it. Scroll down to learn more and register today!

Blue Faery: The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association announces the Blue Faery Award (BFA) for Excellence in Liver Cancer Research recipient. Primary liver cancer, also known as Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), remains the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Blue Faery established the award to honor medical professionals conducting groundbreaking research to improve patient outcomes.

The winner, Dr. Mark Yarchoan, said, "I am deeply honored to receive the Blue Faery Award, which not only supports liver cancer research but also highlights the strength of the community driving progress in this field."

Discover insights from the Phase 3 LEAP-012 study evaluating lenvatinib + pembrolizumab + TACE versus double placebo + TACE for patients with intermediate HCC.

In this short expert video, Prof. Arndt Vogel covers the key findings from the publication and places the results into clinical context.

I'm thrilled to introduce you to Heather Drake, Blue Faery's new full-time Program Manager. Heather joins our team from Connecticut, and she has personal experience with liver cancer.

I'm thrilled to introduce you to Susan Hall, Blue Faery's new and first full-time Development Manager. You may have met Susan on Zoom or in person at The Liver Meeting or ASCO GI. She's been with us just over five months, and I'm so happy to have her on our team. If you have any questions about giving, including legacy gifts, please email Susan.

Last month, Susan and I attended ASCO GI in San Francisco. Between us, we participated in two patient advisory boards, held six meetings, and attended two expert seminars. We even squeezed in a Big Bus Tour of the city and Susan met one of our Board Directors Sarah Schiltz in person. The weather was beautiful, too!

Blue Faery is proud to announce the continuation of its annual Love Your Liver campaign during Black History Month, marking the fourth consecutive year of this impactful and award-winning initiative. This campaign aims to raise awareness about liver disease and cancer within Black/African American communities, who are 1.5 times more likely to develop liver cancer compared to the general population. 

Community members can understand their specific liver cancer risks through the Love Your Liver program and learn about proactive management strategies. Conditions such as type 2 diabetes and hepatitis C can lead to liver cancer, making education and early detection crucial for improving survival rates.