the immortal life of henrietta lacks movie release date

Lacks ultimately passed away on October 4, 1951, at the age of 31, her cells continue to impact the world.Īlthough these were the first cells that could be easily shared and multiplied in a lab setting, Johns Hopkins has never sold or profited from the discovery or distribution of HeLa cells and does not own the rights to the HeLa cell line. They have been used to test the effects of radiation and poisons, to study the human genome, to learn more about how viruses work, and played a crucial role in the development of the polio and COVID-19 vaccines.Īlthough Mrs. Today, these incredible cells - nicknamed 'HeLa' cells, from the first two letters of her first and last names - are used to study the effects of toxins, drugs, hormones and viruses on the growth of cancer cells without experimenting on humans. Lacks' cells doubled every 20 to 24 hours. Lacks’ cells were unlike any of the others he had ever seen: where other cells would die, Mrs. Gey, a prominent cancer and virus researcher, had been collecting cells from all patients - regardless of their race or socioeconomic status - who came to The Johns Hopkins Hospital with cervical cancer, but each sample quickly died in Dr. A sample of her cancer cells retrieved during a biopsy were sent to Dr. This was the best medical treatment available at the time for this terrible disease. Lacks began undergoing radium treatments for her cervical cancer. At the time, The Johns Hopkins Hospital was one of only a few hospitals to treat poor African-Americans.Īs medical records show, Mrs. Howard Jones discovered a large, malignant tumor on her cervix. Upon examination, renowned gynecologist Dr. In 1951, a young mother of five named Henrietta Lacks visited The Johns Hopkins Hospital complaining of vaginal bleeding.

The immortal life of henrietta lacks movie release date