THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS By Christine

THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS By Christine Addae-Kyereme VIKAP

MEET HENRIETTA v (1 August 1920 – 4 October 1951)

THE FAMILY v Henrietta and her husband had five children all together. Their first son Lawrence was born in 1935 and their first daughter Elsie was born 4 years after that. v There were three more children after that: David "Sonny" Jr. born in 1947 , Deborah (1949– 2009) and Joseph who was born in November 1950. v Henrietta was diagnosed with cancer just four and a half months after Joe’s death.

THE DIAGNOSIS v After giving birth to Joseph, Henrietta started bleeding abnormally and profusely. v Howard W. Jones, was her doctor and cut off a small part of the tumour in her cervix and sent it to the pathology lab.

EPIDERMOID CARCINOMA

THE DEATH v Radium tubes were inserted into Lacks as a form of treatment and sewn in place. v During her radiation treatments for the tumour, Dr. George Otto Gey removed two samples of Henrietta's cervix a healthy part and a cancerous part. v She received treatment and blood transfusions, but the cancer had spread throughout her entire body and she died on October 4, 1951 at the age of 31.

THE HELA STRAIN OF CELLS v By 1954, the He. La strain of cells was being used by Jonas Salk to develop a vaccine for polio v The cells were quickly put into mass production in the firstever cell production factory. v In 1955 He. La cells were the first human cells successfully cloned

THE CURE FOR POLIO v Polio is a disease caused by a virus that attacks the central nervous system and causes paralysis. v It is transmitted through bodily fluids v Polio an epidemic across the globe between 1840 and 1950 v He. La cells were easily infected by the poliovirus and therefore were perfect for vaccine testing and development.

HELA CELLS

HOW HELA CELLS HELP US ALL v He. La cells have been transported worldwide. v He. La cells have been used to test human sensitivity to tape, glue, cosmetics, and many other products. v Scientists have grown some 20 tons of her cells, and there almost 11, 000 patents involving He. La cells.

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