Andrea Wilson Woods is a writer who loves to tell stories, and a patient advocate who founded the nonprofit Blue Faery: The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association. Andrea is the CEO and co-founder of Cancer University, a for-profit, social-benefit, digital health company. With Cancer U, Andrea synergizes her talents of coaching, writing, teaching, and advocacy. For over ten years, Andrea worked in the education field as a teacher and professor for public and private schools as well as universities. Andrea obtained her master’s degree in professional writing from the University of Southern California; her nonfiction writing has won national awards. Her new book, a medical memoir titled Better Off Bald: A Life in 147 Days, is a #1 Bestseller on Amazon in multiple categories.

Andrea Bio:

In 2002, Andrea founded Blue Faery: The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Associationafter losing her 15-year-old sister Adrienne, whom she raised for seven years, to stage IV liver cancer. Blue Faery’s mission is to prevent, treat, and cure primary liver cancer, specifically hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), through research, education, and advocacy. Andrea established the articles of incorporation; wrote the bylaws, mission statement, and goals; and developed the organizational structure of the corporation. Currently, she attends board meetings, serves on committees, stays informed about liver cancer, and governs the organization. Andrea represents Blue Faery and its mission at conferences, seminars, and special events. Blue Faery has been honored for community service by U.S. Congressman Adam B. Schiff, California State Senator Jack Scott, and the County of Los Angeles, and was inducted into the Burbank Business Hall of Fame for receiving the Best of Burbank Charity Award from 2013 – 2017.

Since serving on an HCC Patient Advisory Board for Eli Lilly in 2014, Andrea has received numerous scholarships to attend various 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, Global Liver Institute, National Comprehensive Cancer Network, National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable, and more.

In 2017, Andrea won an e-Patient scholarship for Stanford Medicine X where she presented her talk, “How Euphemisms Help Us Deal With Death.” More recently, she spoke to more than 100 liver cancer researchers at the Hepatobiliary Cancers: Pathology and Translational Advances conference sponsored by Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. Her presentation titled “Why We Need To Choose To Cure Liver Cancer” left the room speechless.

As a patient advocate, Andrea serves on many committees and advisory boards including NCI Hepatobiliary Task Force, Target Pharma Solutions HCC Advisory Board, and ASCO’s Systemic Therapy for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Guideline Panel. She is a patient advocate representative on the Mayo Clinic Hepatobiliary SPORE, which is devoted to improving the diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer and bile duct cancer. Andrea serves as a Consumer Reviewer on the Department of Defense’s Peer-Reviewed Cancer Research Program. Andrea represents Blue Faery as a member of AASLD, ASCO, Deadliest Cancers Coalition, and GI Cancers Alliance. She was formerly a member and co-chair of the awareness group of the Liver Cancer Roundtable. Currently, Andrea is the only American serving on the Canadian Cancer Survivor Network’s Liver Cancer Advisory Council. She is also a WEGO Health Expert and member of the International Coach Federation.