Podcast by Tina Carter
23 April 2025
Andre from https://www.bluefaery.org shares part of her story as she helps us learn more about primary liver cancer and the steps we can take to help prevent it.
Andrea Wilson Woods is a patient advocate, speaker, podcaster, and author.
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.
Andrea is cited as a co-author of many academic articles about hepatocellular carcinoma. In 2017, Andrea debuted her podcast Better Off Bald. Better Off Bald is based on Andrea’s story about raising and losing her sister to liver cancer. In October 2019, Andrea published her medical memoir titled Better Off Bald: A Life in 147 Days. It became a #1 Bestseller on Amazon in multiple categories and has won many awards.
Andrea obtained her master’s degree in writing from the University of Southern California, where she focused on non-fiction. She loves telling and writing stories. Her nonfiction writing has won many national awards. As an adjunct professor for Kaplan University, she taught a writing skills and strategies class to incoming freshman students. As a graduate TA, Andrea worked with more than 100 undergraduate students with the goal of improving all aspects of their writing.
Before focusing on her graduate studies, Andrea worked as a development writer and editor for USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. As a family service specialist at the Mattel Children’s Hospital at UCLA, she facilitated women’s groups in the Legacy for Children research study sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and managed by the Research Triangle Institute. Additionally, Andrea worked as a social media manager for the nation’s largest wine importer.
During the seven years she raised her sister, Andrea worked as a primary and secondary school teacher, and she acted in film, television, and theatre. Andrea received her certification in fundraising with a focus on institutional development from UCLA Extension. Andrea is also an ICF Associate Certified Coach and a 500-Hour Certified Yoga Teacher. She graduated cum laude from USC with a B.A. in humanities. After graduation, Andrea gained custody of her then-eight-year-old sister Adrienne.
Raising Adrienne has been Andrea’s greatest joy in life; losing Adrienne to liver cancer has been her greatest loss. Andrea started Blue Faery because she doesn’t want another person to lose a loved one to HCC, and she wants the world to know Adrienne’s spirit, strength, and courage.
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36:57
16 April 2025
As we talk to Joe from https://manuptocancer.org/index we learn about how their organization does so much to support men going through various kinds of cancer.
Joe Bullock was diagnosed with stage 3b colorectal cancer in May 2018 after a routine colonoscopy at age 50. Despite experiencing symptoms for several months, he delayed seeking medical attention while grieving the loss of both his parents, who passed away within six months of each other in 2017. After this period of mourning, Joe underwent a colonoscopy at Duke Hospital, where his gastroenterologist discovered two polyps and a 10cm tumor in his colon.
Following the diagnosis, Joe underwent surgery to remove the tumor, during which his colon was reconnected, and 40 lymph nodes were removed—three of which tested positive for cancer. Post-surgery, he underwent an intensive treatment regimen consisting of Oxaliplatin infusions and Xeloda pills over the course of eight cycles, spanning six months.
In February 2019, Joe was declared NED (No Evidence of Disease). Since surviving cancer, he has embraced a mission to give back, driven by the belief that while cancer may be done with him, he is not done with cancer. His involvement with the Man Up to Cancer community has allowed him to transform his pain into purpose, offering hope and solidarity to others navigating similar journeys.
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38:34
09 April 2025
Ellie from https://inheritanceofhope.org joins us to help us explore what we want to leave to our loved ones and how Inheritance of Hope helps all of us to bring things together to leave with those we love. They also give specific support to people who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness.
I have made a will using their tool which was very easy and pretty thorough. To find that resource click here: https://inheritanceofhope.org/wills
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41:55
02 April 2025
In Today's episode we learn about www.imermanangels.org, an organization geared toward matching cancer patients with appropriate mentors. Jackie (bio below) shares more about this amazing organization.
Jackie Herigodt (she/her) started with IA in 2012 and has been a caregiver to several loved ones with cancer, including her mother, who lost her battle with lung cancer in 2004, which helps fuel her passion.
In her current role as Director of Partnerships and Engagement, Jackie oversees the Mentor Angel training process, the matches made between Mentor Angels and support seekers and the organization’s outreach efforts. Jackie was responsible for the creation of the outreach initiative and has helped strengthen partnerships with other cancer organizations and cancer centers to better serve more people who have been impacted by cancer.
Jackie graduated from Northeastern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She has worked in the fields of animal training, customer service and education, which has proven beneficial in her current role.
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42:37
26 March 2025
In previous episodes we have talked about Hope Lodge, a program of the American Cancer Society (https://www.cancer.org/support-programs-and-services/patient-lodging/hope-lodge.html). The ACS offers free housing in facilities staffed and run by the ACS at various locations throughout the United States. In order to access this program during treatment you need help from a social worker (most cancer centers can help you access a social worker).
Gloria, a social worker, cancerworld caregiver and friend shares her experience staying at the Hope Lodge facility in Houston, TX.
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43:55
19 March 2025
This episode highlighting www.kesem.org, is a part of the third annual podcasthon which encourages podcasters from around the world to highlight non-profits that are doing good in the world. You can find out more at:
https://podcasthon.org
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37:59