Lit Circle 6 Henrietta Lacks

"No one told Sonny, Deborah, or Joe what had happened to their mother" (111)
Their whole life, they have been lied to and kept from. This parallels how the use of Henrietta's cells were kept from the family.

"He grabbed Deborah...Her father didn't say a word, just stared through the windshield" (115)
Deborah was traumatized in her childhood by the lack of care and the constant abuse by her cousin.

"The white and the black didn't mix then, not like they do now" (125)
Ruby believes that racial discrimination is still a problem in society today.

"By the 1960s, scientists joked that Hela cells were so robust that they could probably survive in sink drains or on door knobs" (137)
This exemplifies how widespread the cells have become by the 1960s.

"A public survey about their research was overwhelmingly negative, calling it pointless and dangerous, and example of "men trying to be gods" (143)
Many people disapprove of the research and experiment. This reminds me of Frankenstein by Shelley.

Lit Circle 5 Henrietta Lacks

 

Henrietta's cancer conditions got worse over time; death was a better option for her. Gey and Mary took advantage of Henrietta's death by taking an autopsy after Henrietta died and gathering data from that. The autopsy further supported the cell experiment carried out by Gey. Everyone knows of the widespread immortal cells, but no one appreciated the original owner or acknowledged her hardship throughout her cancer stages.

Skeletal Disease

Dear Dance Captain,

As a result of osteoporosis, I am sorry to say that I must quit being a member of the dance crew. A year ago, I started experiencing moments of pain in my bones every once in a while. I did not have it checked until recently. The doctor said that I am diagnosed with osteoporosis, a skeletal disease where the cancellous bone loses calcium and the bones eventually become thin and may even disappear. Such a disease will restrict me from doing extensive exercises such as dancing. I am sorry to say that this is a farewell letter where I formally withdraw myself from the dance crew. I wish the team the best of luck in the future. I will always be there with you guys in spirit. 

Sincerely, 

Helen

Lit Circle 4 Henrietta Lacks

"There's no indication that Henrietta questioned him" (63)

"There is no record that George Gey ever visited Henrietta in the hospital, or said anything to her about her cells" (66)

"The people of Turner Station just watched me, smiling and shaking their heads like..." (70)

"But them cells, boy, them cells of hers is something else" (85)

"Don't you let anything bad happen to them children when I'm gone" (86)

Lit Circle 3 Henrietta Lacks

What are some side-effects of radium treatment? (42)

Where did the doctor suggest sending Elsie to? (45)

What did Henrietta find out when she wanted to have another child? (47)

What is the Tuskegee Syphilis study? Is it ethical? (50)

Why are Henrietta's cells important? (58)

What is the practice of "benevolent deception"? (63)

What I learned about lung cancer

Lung cancer

- a disease where an uncontrolled cell in tissues of the lung continually grows and spread by metastasis.
-causes: smoking, second-hand smoking, air pollution
-symptoms: coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, respiratory infections, hoarseness, and bloody mucus
- a chest x-ray will likely be performed to look for a cause of the respiratory symptoms
-sputum testing can also detect cancer in the lungs
-smoking is responsible for 85% of lung cancers

Henrietta Lacks Chapter 3-4

Word Master

Epidermoid carcinoma of the cervix (27): cervical cancer; cervix is the lower part of the uterus; most cervical cancers begin in the cells lining the cervix

Estrogen (27): a group of steroid compounds, function as the primary female sex hormone

Endometriosis(27): a female health disorder that occurs when cells from the lining of the womb(uterus) grow in other areas of the body

Hysterectomy(29): the surgical removal of the uterus

Biopsy(31): a medical test performed by a surgeon or radiologist involving sampling of cells and tissues for examination

Radium(33): one of the first radioactive elements discovered; for use in targeted radiation therapy in treating cancer

Umbilical cords(35): connecting cord from the developing embryo to the placenta

Cultures(36): cultivation of cells

Sterilize(37): to make something free from bacteria or other living microorganisms

Catheters(40): a flexible tube inserted through a narrow opening into a body cavity (for removing fluid from the bladder)