Henrietta Lacks was a 31 year old mother who died of cervical cancer.  During her cancer diagnosis & treatment, physicians took samples of her cancer cells without her knowledge & without her consent.  These cells did the unthinkable: they never died.  They were immortal.  

These cells went on to become the HeLa cell line, which is a commonly used cell line in biomedical research even to this day.  Henrietta’s cells have been used to develop the polio vaccine, cancer & AIDS treatments, mapping the human genome, & so much more.  

And her family didn’t know about any of this until 20 years later.  What has unfolded since then has revealed a horrifying exploitation of a Black woman & her family, lack of informed consent, & systemic profiteering that are JUST NOW starting to be addressed appropriately. 

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