The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (chapter 5-6)

Discussion Questions for Chapter 5-6

Chapter 5

1. What are the effects of radiation on Henrietta's body? (pg. 42)
2. Do you think Henrietta slept around like Day did when he wasn't at work? If not, why? (pg. 43)
3. What do you think will happen to Henrietta's daughter Elsie in her condition? (pg. 45)
4. Will the radium treatments have lasting effects on Henrietta's body? (pg. 46)
5. Why didn't the doctors tell Henrietta about her fertility loss? (pg. 47)
6. Was Henrietta hiding the pain that radium treatments gave her? (pg. 48)
7. How come Day never questioned Henrietta's burned torso? (no answer in book)

Chapter 6

1. How does Professor Patillo know Henrietta's family? (no answer in book yet)
2. Is Henrietta's family still affected by her loss? How so? (pg. 51)
3. How much does Deborah Lacks know about what doctors did to her mother and her cells? (pg. 52)
4. How is Henrietta's family affected by the medical outbreak of Henrietta's cells? (pg. 54-55)
5. Do you think Day truly loved Henrietta? (no answer in book)
6. For how long would the author have to attempt to communicate with the Lacks family? (pg. 54)