Blue Faery

2023 Annual Report

2023: Year of Growth

At the beginning of 2023, Blue Faery had one full-time employee (me) and one part-time employee. By the second quarter of the year, we hired another full time employee, George Galvez. While his title is Executive Assistant, George oversees our websites, manages the Liver Cancer News, conducts PR outreach, and so much more.

As the year progressed, we realized we needed to hire two more full-time employees by January 2024. This awareness led to hiring Allyson Luong as our Program Manager and Marina Uchenik as our Operations Manager. Both women began part-time in the fall of 2023 and became full-time this year. We're able to offer our US-based employees full medical benefits, generous PTO, and a flexible schedule. All of our employees work remotely.

Our programs have grown, too! Our Liver Cancer Community continues to thrive with Sharon Dixon as our Community Ambassador. The third edition of our Patient Resource Guides debuted in June in English, Spanish, and Chinese. We launched The Truth About Liver Cancer, a new program with 19 panelists discussing different topics across five live virtual workshops. Our Love Your Liver program expanded to three campaigns focusing on different minority populations. Our Blue Faery Award increased by 33% and Dr. Daneng Li, a medical oncologist from the City of Hope, was the 2023 winner.

Blue Faery crossed a huge milestone this year—surpassing $1 million in revenue and remaining profitable in the process. Your generosity makes our work possible! In addition to individual gifts, matching gifts, Facebook fundraisers, and outside events, our corporate partners support our programs. We are deeply grateful to AstraZeneca, Eisai, Elevar Therapeutics, Eureka Therapeutics, Exelixis, Genentech, and Merck.

Thank you for believing in our mission.

Fighting Liver Cancer Together
Andrea Wilson Woods
President and Founder

Marina Uchenik and Andrea Wilson Woods attending ASCO 2023 in Chicago.

Our Mission has never wavered …

To prevent, treat, and cure primary liver cancer, specifically Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), through research, education, and advocacy. Our work will improve the quality of life for HCC patients, support their caregivers, and give them hope, information, and a voice.

About Liver Cancer

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth most common cancer in the world and the third most common cause of cancer deaths worldwide. HCC accounts for more than 90% of primary liver cancers worldwide.

HCC is also known as hepatoma, primary liver cell carcinoma, or primary liver cancer. The number of incident cases increased by 75% between 1990 and 2015, mostly because of changes in population age structures and population growth.

Approximately, 90% of HCC cases are associated with a known underlying cause, most commonly chronic viral hepatitis, heavy alcohol use, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.*

*https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10121295/

Liver Cancer Statistics

Over 905,000 new cases each year

Over 830,000 deaths each year

3rd leading cause of cancer deaths

55% increase in liver cancer cases
by 2040

Our Programs

Liver Cancer Community

for HCC patients and families

As of December 2023,

578 all-time members
50 daily active members

Hosted on HealthUnlocked, Blue Faery’s Liver Cancer Community is a private, online, HIPAA-compliant forum composed of HCC patients and caregivers who support each other throughout their cancer journey.

Patient Resource Guides for Liver Cancer

The third edition debuted in June 2023

22,000 English Copies
Additional 10,000 ordered in Q1 2024

5,000 Spanish Copies

3,000 Chinese Copies

United States: Distribution of 2nd edition

Order Patient Resource Guides

The Truth About Liver Cancer

The Truth About Liver Cancer (TTALC) educates the public about HCC through a series of live, virtual, 90-minute workshops throughout the year held on Saturdays at 12 p.m. EST.

Watch The Truth About Liver Cancer Playlist on YouTube

TTALC 2023 Panelists

Dr. Ghassan Abou-Alfa

Multidisciplinary Team
Medical Oncologist
Kay Anderson

Survivor Stories
HCC survivor
Dr. Sarah Bauer

Tough Conversations
Daughter of HCC patient
Sharon Dixon

Caregivers Corner
Spouse of HCC patient
Danielle Duran

Survivor Stories
FHCC survivor
Dr. Daneng Li

Tough Conversations
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Chih-Yi "Andy" Liao

Multidisciplinary Team
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Andrew Moon

Multidisciplinary Team
Gastroenterologist
Dr. Jody Olson

Multidisciplinary Team
Internal Medicine Specialist
Dr. Boris Pasche

Multidisciplinary Team
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Arpan Patel

Tough Conversations
Palliative Care Specialist
Bonnie Pickard

Caregivers Corner
Spouse of HCC patient
Dr. Anjana Pillai

Multidisciplinary Team
Transplant Hepatologist
William Remak

Survivor Stories
HCC survivor
Swapna Roopesh

Caregivers Corner
Daughter-in-law of HCC patient
Sarah Schiltz

Caregivers Corner
Spouse of HCC patient
Dr. Amit Singal

Multidisciplinary Team
Transplant Hepatologist
Ryne Wilson

Tough Conversations
GI Oncology Nurse
Dr. Mark Yarchoan

Multidisciplinary Team
Medical Oncologist

Love Your Liver

The best way to stop liver cancer is to prevent it before it happens.

Blue Faery’s Love Your Liver program spreads awareness and educates high-risk, underserved populations to increase the prevention and early detection of liver disease and cancer. Given that minorities have higher rates of liver cancer, Love Your Liver seeks to improve health inequities and address social determinants of health. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have the highest rates of liver cancer, followed by Hispanics/Latinos, American Indians/Alaska Natives, African Americans, and whites.

All Love Your Liver programs are culturally inclusive, in their native language, and led by healthcare providers who reflect the community.

Love Your Liver for Asian Americans in May 2023

Asian Americans are 2x more likely than White Americans to get chronic hepatitis B, the leading cause of liver cancer in the Asian American community.

During Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Blue Faery has free educational programs for Asian Americans.