DANBURY, CONN. — Dr. Richard Frank, director of cancer research at the Whittingham Cancer Center at Norwalk Hospital, will help demystify cancer at a public lecture at Western Connecticut State University.

The discussion of Frank’s book “Fighting Cancer with Knowledge and Hope” will be held at 5 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 7, in Warner Hall on the university’s Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury. The event will be free and open to the public. However, seating is limited and can be reserved by calling (203) 837-8556 by Friday, Sept. 25.

WCSU Professor of Nursing Dr. Carol Avery met Frank in 2007, several years after her daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 38. In January 2008, Rebecca Avery DiPanni died at age 42, just nine months after cancer was discovered in her liver. She died on her only son’s fourth birthday. Avery said that she wanted to bring Frank to WestConn to give people in the Danbury area — from the nursing department to Danbury Hospital to the entire community at WCSU — an opportunity to listen to Frank speak and read his book.

“Rebecca was the sort of person who would want to help others,” Avery said. “My daughter, the bravest and strongest person I have ever known, was taken from me much too soon. She was a loving daughter, wife and mother, and cherished friend. As Rebecca’s oncologist throughout her battle with liver cancer, Dr. Frank was a thoughtful and sensitive physician who also found time to show our family that he understood our grief and loss.”

Frank, who is also medical director at Mid-Fairfield Hospice in Wilton, is an award-winning oncologist recognized for his humanitarian approach and research accomplishments. He will address, among other things, what cancer is and how it spreads, how treatment strategies are chosen, how cancer-fighting drugs work to shut down the growth of the disease and how patients can helpfully visualize cancer treatments at work in the body.

For more information, contact the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486.

Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England’s best small private universities.