CHINA: Young Chinese man known as the "Elephant Man" hopes to be normal after second surgery

Record ID: 613093

  • Title: CHINA: Young Chinese man known as the "Elephant Man" hopes to be normal after second surgery
  • Date: 14th January 2008
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin), LIU LIZHI, CHIEF DOCTOR, SAYING: "If the operation is successful, his body will be relieved of a large burden and in this sense, his chances of being cured will be very big. Most importantly, after the operation, Huang's body will return to normal, including his heart, lung and spine. We hope that after that, Huang can basically lead the life of a n
  • Embargoed: 29th January 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Health
  • Reuters ID: LVABUJG4FXM31QBTH9HH3OS62709
  • Story Text: A Chinese young man known as the "Elephant Man" because of the large tumour on his face hopes a second round of surgery will help him to become normal.
    A Chinese man with a massive tumor on his face which has stunted his growth and has forced him to live as a recluse, is getting ready for a second round of surgery which doctors hope will allow him to come closer to leading a normal life.
    Huang Chuancai, 32, known as the "Elephant Man" is due to undergo the operation on Monday (January 7) at the Fuda Hospital in southern China.
    Doctors at a hospital in Guangzhou, capital city of prosperous province of Guangdong, have removed part of his crippling, 15 kg (33 lb) tumour mass drooping from his head and face in July.
    Before that operation, Huang who is from Hunan province could hardly speak because of his tumour was so huge. His left eye had been totally covered, his left ear hung down to his shoulder, and his right ear and jaw engulfed by the mass.
    Five months later, Huang is preparing to go under the scalpel again and hopes are high that he will be a step closer to being cured.
    "I hope that when my illness is cured, I can go back home and have a nice spring festival with my family," he said.
    The latest surgery, although not as risky as the first one, is challenging.
    "Compared to his first operation, the second one has some new issues. The main problem is the tumor is close to his ear, and his ear has already been invaded and extended by it, so we will try to cut the tumor while keeping his ear, and reconstruct it after the operation. The second problem concerns his mouth, because it has also been enlarged by the tumor, so we need to fix it after removing the tumor, which would be helpful for the whole process of curing him," said chief surgeon Liu Lizhi.
    But the doctor was confident about the operation, and hopes its success could fulfill Huang's dreams of becoming a normal man.

    "If the operation is successful, his body will be relieved of a large burden and in this sense, his chances of being cured will be very big.
    Most importantly, after the operation, Huang's body will return to normal, including his heart, lung and spine. We hope that after that, Huang can basically lead the life of a normal person," he added.
    Huang's condition has ostracised him from society. Bullying from his classmates forced him to leave school at the age of ten. His father even indignantly described how he was approached several years ago by someone who wished to buy him and display him as part a "monster show" in a circus.
    Huang's family struggles to earn a living on arid farmland and simply could not afford the medical costs of treatment until the hospital offered to help.
    The hospital has successfully operated on two patients with facial tumors in the past.
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