Huang Chuncai
Encyclopedia
Huang Chuncai (b. 1977) is a Chinese
man who became famous for being "China's Elephant man
". He is suffering from an extreme case of neurofibromatosis
, which caused such large tumours on his face
that they had completely distorted his features.
Born in the southern parts of Hunan
province, Huang is the eldest of three children. In addition to his parents, his family also consists of his brother, his sister and his nephew. His father earned money by selling noodles in the local market.
Huang's parents first noticed signs of his illness when he was four years old. He was taken to hospital and was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis. However, the doctors advised against removing the tumors -- an operation that Huang's parents were too poor to afford anyway -- because they believed it to be too dangerous.
Huang's tumor continued to grow, and although he began attending school when he was eight, he eventually left four years later, as he felt alienated by the other children, who called him the elephant man. By the time he was 31, his tumor weighed 15 kg.
Around 2007, he caught the attention of the doctors at the Fuda Cancer Hospital
in Guangzhou
, who decided to try removing the tumour. His first operation in July 2007 removed a 15 kg (33 lb.) tumour from the right side of his face, and the second one in January 2008 removed another 10 lb. (4.5kg) of tissue from the same side.
A third operation was scheduled for late 2008, which would have removed the tumor on the left side of his face.
In the BodyShock
series, Huang was the subject of a 2008 documentary episode entitled "I Am the Elephant Man".
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
man who became famous for being "China's Elephant man
The Elephant Man (disambiguation)
The Elephant Man may be a reference to:People* Joseph Carey Merrick , Englishman known as "The Elephant Man" because of his physical appearance caused by a congenital defect...
". He is suffering from an extreme case of neurofibromatosis
Neurofibromatosis
Neurofibromatosis is a genetically-inherited disorder in which the nerve tissue grows tumors that may be benign or may cause serious damage by compressing nerves and other tissues...
, which caused such large tumours on his face
Face
The face is a central sense organ complex, for those animals that have one, normally on the ventral surface of the head, and can, depending on the definition in the human case, include the hair, forehead, eyebrow, eyelashes, eyes, nose, ears, cheeks, mouth, lips, philtrum, temple, teeth, skin, and...
that they had completely distorted his features.
Born in the southern parts of Hunan
Hunan
' is a province of South-Central China, located to the south of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and south of Lake Dongting...
province, Huang is the eldest of three children. In addition to his parents, his family also consists of his brother, his sister and his nephew. His father earned money by selling noodles in the local market.
Huang's parents first noticed signs of his illness when he was four years old. He was taken to hospital and was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis. However, the doctors advised against removing the tumors -- an operation that Huang's parents were too poor to afford anyway -- because they believed it to be too dangerous.
Huang's tumor continued to grow, and although he began attending school when he was eight, he eventually left four years later, as he felt alienated by the other children, who called him the elephant man. By the time he was 31, his tumor weighed 15 kg.
Around 2007, he caught the attention of the doctors at the Fuda Cancer Hospital
Fuda Cancer Hospital-Guangzhou
Formally known as Fuda Cancer Hospital-Guangzhou , Fuda is located in southern China in the city of Guangzhou. Fuda is best known among the late-stage cancer patients who no longer have treatment options with chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Instead, Fuda offers newer and sometimes...
in Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
, who decided to try removing the tumour. His first operation in July 2007 removed a 15 kg (33 lb.) tumour from the right side of his face, and the second one in January 2008 removed another 10 lb. (4.5kg) of tissue from the same side.
A third operation was scheduled for late 2008, which would have removed the tumor on the left side of his face.
In the BodyShock
BodyShock
BodyShock is a sensationalistic documentary series about the conditions or lives of extraordinary people. It was originally produced by redback for Channel 4 in the UK, but since September 2006, it has been carried by ArkMedia....
series, Huang was the subject of a 2008 documentary episode entitled "I Am the Elephant Man".
External links
- Fuda Cancer Hospital-Guangzhou
- Last news and photo
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fc7FU6PB-GY
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NAmaEtAvLY
- http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/episode/china-s-elephant-man-4210/Overview