Immortal Woman

Our next feature for black history month is not a physician, but a phenomenal woman who has made many of today's medical advances possible. 

                   

Henrietta Lacks (August 1, 1920- October 4, 1951) was born in Roanoke,Virginia and moved to Baltimore, Maryland after marriage. In 1951, she started experiencing abnormal bleeding and felt a "lump" in her stomach. Heading to Johns Hopkins Hospital; which was one of the few hospitals in the area that served black patients, she was seen by Dr. Howard Jones who discovered a mass on her cervix. The mass was biopsied and later diagnosed as Stage 1 cervical cancer. 

Mrs. Lacks began radiotherapy for the cancer, and while undergoing treatment had several of her normal and cancerous cells removed without her knowledge. The cells were taken to a laboratory and studied by scientists who realized something amazing; they wouldn't die. The cells multiplied and eventually started their own continual lines, even under conditions other harbored cells couldn't survive in. Lacks eventually succumbed to her cancer but parts of her lived on.

                             

Now known as the "HeLa Cell Lines", Henrietta's cells were used for numerous research projects and even aided in the development of the polio vaccine. The cells have been mass produced and shipped around the world for countless scientific pursuits. Unfortunately all of these discoveries with Henrietta's cells were unknown to her family until the 1970's, when researchers contacted them asking for blood samples and genetic assays. In 1996 she and her family were recognized by Morehouse College of Medicine and the city of Atlanta, Georgia for their contributions to medical research. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot was written in 2010 and became a New York Times Bestseller. 

Many questions have arisen as to how Henrietta Lack's cells could have been taken without her consent or knowledge. Unfortunately most answers point to social and racial injustice (many of which still occur in the health field today). She has since received several posthumous awards and recognition but that fact that a 31 year old woman's body parts were taken without her knowing is still heartbreaking. Henrietta Lacks gave the gift that keeps on giving, an opportunity for others to benefit from her own sacrifice. She may no longer be alive to hear this, but to Mrs. Lacks, we thank you. 

Source: Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

             Henrietta Lacks