10/18/2026
💚 October is Liver Cancer Awareness Month 💚
On March 31, 2025, I lost my grandmother to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a type of primary liver cancer that many people may have never even heard of.
For me, liver cancer awareness is more than a campaign, a ribbon, or another health observance on the calendar. It is personal. It has a name, a face, and a place in my heart that will never be filled.
What many people may not know is that my grandmother is the reason The Compass Collective exists.
Her life, her journey, and ultimately her passing became part of the foundation for something much bigger than myself. The Compass Collective was born from a desire to help people navigate systems that can feel overwhelming, confusing, and inaccessible, especially when they are already facing some of life's most difficult circumstances.
I wanted to create something rooted in compassion, education, advocacy, and community. Something that reminds people they deserve to be heard, informed, supported, and treated with dignity.
And that purpose will always be connected to her.
So, let's talk about hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
HCC is the most common type of primary liver cancer, accounting for approximately 75–85% of cases worldwide. However, primary liver cancer itself is much less common in the United States than cancers such as breast, lung, or colorectal cancer.
Just because a disease isn't discussed as frequently doesn't mean its impact is any less devastating.
Here are a few things everyone should know:
💚 Liver cancer can develop silently. Early-stage liver cancer may not cause noticeable symptoms, making detection challenging.
💚 Alcohol is not the only risk factor. Chronic hepatitis B and C, cirrhosis, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) can increase the risk of HCC. Some individuals develop HCC without cirrhosis.
💚 Symptoms aren't always obvious. Unexplained weight loss, fatigue, abdominal discomfort, loss of appetite, and yellowing of the skin or eyes can occur. These symptoms should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.
💚 Surveillance can make a difference. Certain individuals at increased risk may benefit from liver cancer surveillance, generally every six months, depending on their medical history and clinical recommendations.
💚 A diagnosis should never come with judgment. Liver cancer has multiple causes, and someone's diagnosis should never be reduced to assumptions about their lifestyle or personal choices.
As someone who has spent years working in healthcare and patient advocacy, I know how important it is for people to understand their health, ask questions, and have access to appropriate resources.
But as a granddaughter, I understand something else entirely.
I understand the grief that comes with losing someone you love. The conversations you wish you could have again. The moments you wish you could revisit. And the reality of learning how to carry someone's memory while continuing to move forward.
The Compass Collective is one of the ways I carry my grandmother with me.
Every person I help navigate a healthcare barrier, every resource I share, every conversation about mental health, and every opportunity to advocate for someone who feels unheard is connected to the purpose behind this organization.
My grandmother was so much more than her diagnosis, and I never want her story to be defined solely by the disease that took her life.
Instead, I want her legacy to be reflected in the lives we touch, the barriers we help people overcome, and the communities we continue to serve.
This October, I am raising awareness about liver cancer while honoring the woman whose life helped inspire a mission that continues to grow.
The Compass Collective exists because of her. And through this work, her legacy continues.
In her memory. For their awareness. 💚🕊️
