At ASCO, Liver Cancer Advocate Urges Annual CT Scans to Catch HCC

At the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting, Kristie Kahl of CURE spoke with Nicole Wright Dirks, a volunteer with Blue Faery, a patient advocacy organization focused on liver cancer. Wright Dirks attended the meeting on behalf of her mother, who is living with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), to explore emerging treatment options and amplify the patient perspective.

When asked what gives her hope about the future of cancer care, Wright Dirks pointed to how far the field has already come — in treatments, medications and interventional radiology procedures — and expressed optimism that continued progress will one day lead to cures for all cancers.

She also spoke to why events like ASCO matter for patients and caregivers. For Wright Dirks, the conference offered a rare opportunity to network, connect with experts and learn about options that may not yet have FDA clearance — all on behalf of someone who could not be in the room herself.

Her message for the CURE community was simple: spend time with your loved ones, because time cannot be replaced.

Wright Dirks also shared something she wishes every patient knew. For anyone with an underlying liver condition — whether fatty liver disease, non-alcoholic liver disease or another hepatic issue — she encouraged getting a CT scan of the liver on a yearly basis. That kind of regular screening, she noted, is standard protocol for patients with liver disease and can be critical for catching HCC early.

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