The Way of All Flesh

The Way of All Flesh, by Adam Curtis, tells the story of Henrietta Lacks, who died of cervical cancer in 1951, and how her cells led to significant breakthroughs in medical research.

Before Lacks’s death, cells were extracted from her body and taken to a laboratory for cultivation, with the hope of finding a cure for cancer. Scientists discovered that the cells grew and multiplied in a way that could not be controlled. These cells, which came to be known as HeLa cells, were later used by Jonas Salk to help develop a polio vaccine.

As a result of this discovery, demand for the cells increased rapidly and they were put into mass production. In the decades following Henrietta’s death, her cells continued to aid research into AIDS, cancer, and the effects of toxic substances and radiation. The documentary also looks at Lacks’s family, who for many years were not recognised for the posthumous contribution made by their relative.