Chinas Elephant Man can now lead a normal life following a fourth life-saving operation to remove the world’s biggest facial tumour. Huang Chuncai from Hunan Province, China had a huge 25kg growth that hung down to his waist - now 21kg of the growth has been removed. The 37-year-old had the worst case of Neurofibromatosis ever recorded and could barely move, eat or sleep. Huang was left untreated for 30 years as his parents could not afford medical treatment - and grew to just 4ft tall as the pressure of the tumour on his spine stunted his growth and gave him a hunchback. In 2007 a media frenzy raised awareness of Huang’s plight and he was offered major facial surgery by the Chinese Government. But doctors at Fuda Cancer Hospital weren’t convinced surgery was possible due to the size of the tumnour. Chief physician at Fuda Hospital, Wu Binghui said: “I was shocked, I had never seen a tumour as big as Haung’s on a human body. “I was completely overwhelmed. The tumour was huge and full of blood. It would flow out when you cut it.” But in four life-changing operations over seven years, the surgeons managed to remove 21kg of the massive facial deformity. Huangs mum He Baohua said: “I think his face is smaller and thinner and we are so happy that his life is easier and happier now. Now – after his final operation – Huang is looking forward to living a normal life. #Maxillofacial #oncology
Posted on: Wed, 15 Oct 2014 16:47:16 +0000