Chris Hickey

Cancer Awareness Lectures

Expertise:
Biology & Oncology

Available for in-person lectures in:
South Florida

Available via Zoom?
Yes

To book Chris, e-mail:
dan@hudakonhollywood.com

Dr. Christopher J. Hickey is a cancer molecular biologist who specializes in cancer experimental therapeutics. Dr. Hickey is originally from Columbus, Ohio and completed his doctoral training at The Ohio State University where his research was focused on leukemia experimental therapeutics. Following his doctoral training, he completed additional training as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow while investigating breast cancer experimental therapeutics at The Mitchell Cancer Institute located in Mobile, Alabama. Currently, Dr. Hickey has an active cancer research laboratory in West Palm Beach and continues his research in developing experimental therapies for the treatment of multiple types of cancer. His award-winning cancer research has been recognized at the international and national levels. Moreover, his laboratory breakthroughs have been published in numerous peer-reviewed scientific journals. Dr. Hickey currently lives in West Palm Beach, Florida and he enjoys scuba diving in his very limited free time.

Lectures include:

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The Hallmarks of Cancer: Common Features Among All Cancers

This presentation effectively illustrates how healthy cells become cancer cells. The conversion of a healthy cell to a cancerous cell is a process referred to as transformation. This process involves a series of changes that provides a growth advantage for the transformed cell within a surrounding tissue. These changes have been observed at the cellular and molecular levels for a wide variety of cancers. With these cellular and molecular insights, scientists have been able to characterize and identify common traits displayed by the many cancers. Collectively, the mechanisms providing growth advantages for the transformed cells are commonly known as the Hallmarks of Cancer.

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Skin Cancer: The 5 W’s…Who, What, Where, When, and Why

Skin cancer is a disease that impacts many Floridians. This presentation begins with an examination of the anatomy of the skin with a particular focus on the epidermal layer which includes the cells that can serve as the origins of skin cancer. The initiating events from ultraviolet radiation (UV radiation) are discussed to illustrate how skin cancer can begin from a single mutated cell within the epidermal layer. As a result of the UV radiation, these mutations provide the transformed cell with growth advantages that are uncommon to the healthy cells within the surrounding tissue. This uncontrolled growth can populate the surrounding tissue with cancerous cells that can later be observed on the surface of the skin. The presentation concludes with a discussion of the therapeutic options currently available for the treatment of the various types of skin cancer.

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Leukemia: There is More to it Than You Think

Generally speaking, leukemia is often thought of as a cancer of the blood and it is a diagnosis that nobody wants to receive. Moreover, leukemia is a type of cancer that is not well understood by many people outside of the medical community. This presentation provides a thorough explanation of leukemia and results in the audience being more knowledgeable about the various types of leukemia. Leukemia is the failure of immune cells to develop in a healthy manner. As a result, this form of cancer negatively impacts the immune system leading to complications within the body’s own defenses to maintain a healthy state. This presentation illustrates the different types of leukemia and how these points of interest impact the body’s ability to provide immunity. Fortunately, recent scientific breakthroughs have provided the medical community with novel therapeutic options that allow for the effective treatment and management of most types of leukemia.

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Breast Cancer: A Comprehensive Review

The treatment options for breast cancer management have advanced at an impressive rate due to medical researchers working together to find innovative ways to combat an all too familiar form of cancer. Using medical illustrations (not photos), this presentation begins with the anatomy of the breast at the tissue and cellular levels to describe the origins of cancer cells within the breast. Next, the audience is shown the development of breast cancer and how systems are used to stage the development when describing and monitoring the growth. At the cellular level, various characteristics of breast cancer cells are described which serve as targets for current treatment options. At the molecular level, common genetic mutations are discussed, and the audience is shown how these mutations can contribute to the development of breast cancer. The presentation concludes with how breast cancer treatments target the altered molecular mechanisms that resulted from the common genetic mutations.

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Heredity and Cancer: A Family Affair

Sadly, many of us have been there: A cancer diagnosis hits a family member, and after the initial shock and grief, you can’t help but wonder: Is it hereditary? Am I going to get it too? In this hour-long lecture, cancer molecular biologist Chris Hickey will share why certain members of families experience the same type of cancer diagnosis. Additionally, this presentation discusses the ways different cancers can share a common genetic link that can impact multiple generations of a family. Finally, the presentation discusses the prevalence of commonly known cancers among certain populations and ethnic groups. The content is organized by cancer type and identifies specific genes that contribute to the malignancies among these groups of people.

Are you ready to bring Hudak On Hollywood to your community?

Please e-mail dan@hudakonhollywood.com for additional information. We look forward to hearing from you!

dan@hudakonhollywood.com