ANDREA WILSON WOODS, Author/Patient Advocate/CEO (8-25-21)

ANDREA WILSON WOODS, an award winning and bestselling author, former teacher/professor, and current patient advocate, joined us to discuss when she became the "parent" of her 8-year-old sister, and then led her through her final days after her sister was diagnosed with terminal stage IV liver cancer at age 15. We also discussed her book on the subject, "Better Off Bald: A Life in 147 Days". 

FROM HER WEBSITE:

"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.

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.

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. Andrea started Cancer U because she wants to change the cancer paradigm in the United States and she believes to ignite change you have to go to the source: the patient. She wants to teach cancer patients and caregivers how to become advocates for themselves so they can change their cancer journey."

www.andreawilsonwoods.com

https://betteroffbald.com