A Liver Cancer Journey Marked by Persistence, Family and Hope

For many patients, the path to a liver cancer diagnosis is not straightforward. Symptoms can be vague, tests inconclusive and reassurance misleading. In a recent CURE conversation, Charles Walker shared how months of unexplained fatigue and back pain ultimately led to a life-altering diagnosis.

Walker, a lifelong athlete and father of three, initially believed his active lifestyle protected him from serious illness. However, in May 2023, routine symptoms escalated into something he could not ignore. After visits with chiropractors, pain specialists, and other providers failed to provide answers, a pulmonology appointment finally revealed the cause: hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), driven by years of undiagnosed metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).

Looking back, Walker emphasized the importance of self-advocacy. He encouraged patients who feel unheard to trust their instincts and remain persistent.

“I could tell right away that things were not normal,” he shared, reinforcing a message many patients with delayed diagnoses recognize all too well.

Treatment for HCC required immunotherapy and radiation, both of which took an emotional and physical toll. During his darkest moments, Walker credits his resilience to music sent by his daughter, encouragement from his sons and unwavering support from his wife, siblings and extended family. Faith also played a central role, helping him move from disbelief into what he described as “fight mode.”

Even after his cancer was eradicated, Walker faced another obstacle: eligibility for a liver transplant. His Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score was not high enough to prioritize him for a deceased donor organ, a reality that surprises many patients. Although he was too healthy to rise on the transplant list, he was too sick to live without intervention.

That gap led to a life-saving decision. On Jan. 21, 2025, Walker’s oldest son, Kyle, became his living liver donor. Walker spoke candidly about the emotional weight of that choice and the deep gratitude he feels. “He’s my hero,” Walker said, noting that the transplant strengthened an already close relationship.

Now one-year post-transplant, Walker is channeling gratitude into advocacy. Recently named the American Liver Foundation’s 2026 National Adult Liver Champion, he is focused on raising awareness about living donation and the approximately 9,300 Americans still waiting for a transplant. He hopes to dispel myths about donor safety and highlight the liver’s remarkable ability to regenerate.

For patients newly diagnosed with HCC, Walker offered simple but powerful advice: allow time to process the diagnosis, become your own advocate, listen to your care team and prepare mentally for uncertainty. “You don’t have a choice if you want to live,” he said. “You give it your best shot.”

As Walker celebrates his first “liverversary,” his story underscores the importance of awareness, family support and perseverance in the face of liver cancer.

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