Henrietta Lacks: The Cause Of Cancer Cells

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Henrietta Lacks was a thirty-one year old African American who had five kids and married her cousin David Lacks. Henrietta was diagnosed with cervical cancer, the doctors never informed Mrs. Lacks that her cells were to be tested on. The Lacks family was certainly not advised that Henrietta 's cells were growing at an incredible rate. Because of this, the cancer cells were shipped and bought across the world. The last 8 months of Henrietta’s death became a piece of history nobody would ever want to forget. Not only would her cells be important, but also, these cancer cells would cause her family to go through many challenges. Though Henrietta’s might have not been and important person while being alive. She & her family live through her reproducing cancer cells that continue to create advancements in the medical field. Mrs. Lacks “showed up at Hopkins complaining …show more content…

Lacks. Henrietta was unable to walk, her “abdomen hurt and she could barley urinate”(Skool 64). Because of this checked in full time at John Hopkins hospital hoping that her procedures and treatment would keep going as usual. Mrs. Lacks wasn’t a negative person nor was she inconsiderate; she knew her death would soon come. In result to this she desirably made it clear that all of her kids must be taken well care of once she dies. Soon when her passing came, Doctors asked her husband if they could give an autopsy to her body; Mr. Lacks declined. Doctors persuaded Mr. Lack saying that the autopsy would not only help her kids but the world as well. After agreeing the body was analyzed and cells were taken from her with out any permission. Henrietta’s cells were different “they reproduced an entire generation every twenty-four hours, and they never stopped. They became the first immortal human cells ever grown in a laboratory”(Skool). This was good for the world, thanks to Lacks cells, specialists can use these cells to help find cures for deadly diseases like