Huang Chuncai cries before his second operation to remove his tumours, which currently weigh around 10kg (22lbs), at a hospital in Guangzhou, southern China's Guangdong province, January 5, 2008. Huang, a 32-year-old native from a remote village in China's southern province of Hunan, says he is relieved after a part of his facial tumours, which originally weighed about 23kg (50.7 lbs), was removed last year. His second operation will remove another part of the tumours, which weighs 4.5kg (9.9lbs). Huang suffers from Neurofibromatosis, which is a genetic disorder of the nervous system that primarily affects the development and growth of nerve tissues. Picture taken January 5, 2008. REUTERS/Joe Tan (CHINA)
Huang Chuncai undergoes a medical check-up before his second operation to remove his tumours, which currently weigh around 10kg (22lbs), at a hospital in Guangzhou, southern China's Guangdong province, January 5, 2008. Huang, a 32-year-old native from a remote village in China's southern province of Hunan, says he is relieved after a part of his facial tumours, which originally weighed about 23kg (50.7 lbs), was removed last year. His second operation will remove another part of the tumours, which weighs 4.5kg (9.9lbs). Huang suffers from Neurofibromatosis, which is a genetic disorder of the nervous system that primarily affects the development and growth of nerve tissues. Picture taken January 5, 2008. REUTERS/Joe Tan (CHINA)
Huang Chuncai sits in a wheelchair beside his sister before his second operation to remove his tumours, which currently weigh around 10kg (22lbs), at a hospital in Guangzhou, southern China's Guangdong province, January 5, 2008. Huang, a 32-year-old native from a remote village in China's southern province of Hunan, says he is relieved after a part of his facial tumours, which originally weighed about 23kg (50.7 lbs), was removed last year. His second operation will remove another part of the tumours, which weighs 4.5kg (9.9lbs). Huang suffers from Neurofibromatosis, which is a genetic disorder of the nervous system that primarily affects the development and growth of nerve tissues. Picture taken January 5, 2008. REUTERS/Joe Tan (CHINA)
Huang Chuncai eats in his ward before his second operation to remove his tumours, which currently weigh around 10kg (22lbs), at a hospital in Guangzhou, southern China's Guangdong province, January 5, 2008. Huang, a 32-year-old native from a remote village in China's southern province of Hunan, says he is relieved after a part of his facial tumours, which originally weighed about 23kg (50.7 lbs), was removed last year. His second operation will remove another part of the tumours, which weighs 4.5kg (9.9lbs). Huang suffers from Neurofibromatosis, which is a genetic disorder of the nervous system that primarily affects the development and growth of nerve tissues. Picture taken January 5, 2008. REUTERS/Joe Tan (CHINA)
Huang Chuncai rests before his second operation to remove his tumours, which currently weigh around 10kg (22lbs), at a hospital in Guangzhou, southern China's Guangdong province, January 5, 2008. Huang, a 32-year-old native from a remote village in China's southern province of Hunan, says he is relieved after a part of his facial tumours, which originally weighed about 23kg (50.7 lbs), was removed last year. His second operation will remove another part of the tumours, which weighs 4.5kg (9.9lbs). Huang suffers from Neurofibromatosis, which is a genetic disorder of the nervous system that primarily affects the development and growth of nerve tissues. Picture taken January 5, 2008. REUTERS/Joe Tan (CHINA)
Huang Chuncai poses before his second operation to remove his tumours, which currently weigh around 10kg (22lbs), at a hospital in Guangzhou, southern China's Guangdong province, January 3, 2008. Huang, a 32-year-old native from a remote village in China's southern province of Hunan, says he is relieved after a part of his facial tumours, which originally weighed about 23kg (50.7 lbs), was removed last year. His second operation will remove another part of the tumours, which weighs 4.5kg (9.9lbs). Huang suffers from Neurofibromatosis, which is a genetic disorder of the nervous system that primarily affects the development and growth of nerve tissues. Picture taken January 3, 2008. REUTERS/Joe Tan (CHINA)
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MOD-DATE: 01/06/08 19:56:06
LIFE!1-JAN07-CHINA-FACE TUMOUR
LIFE!1: STORY L!251
FACE TUMOUR GUANGZHOU, GUANGDONG PROVINCE, CHINA JANUARY 5, 2008
NATURAL WITH MANDARIN SPEECH DURATION:02:27
SOURCE:REUTERS FEED HISTORY:+NEW LIFE!1 (0415GMT)
INTRO: China's "Elephant Man" hopes to be normal after second surgery.
TV AND WEB RESTRICTIONS~**NONE**
~ 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.
SHOWS: (L!1) GUANGZHOU, GUANGDONG PROVINCE, CHINA (JANUARY 5, 2008) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)
1. "ELEPHANT MAN" HUANG CHUANCAI SITTING IN BED
2. HUANG CHUANCAI WALKING FROM BED TO WHEELCHAIR
3. NURSE TAKING HUANG CHUANCAI OUT OF ROOM
4. NURSE PUSHING HUANG CHUANCAI'S WHEELCHAIR DOWN HOSPITAL CORRIDOR
5. HUANG CHUANCAI WALKING TO BED
6. HOSPITAL OFFICIAL SHAVING HUANG CHUANCAI'S HEAD
7. DOCTOR POINTING AT TUMOR SHOWN ON SCREEN
8. DOCTOR CHECKING HUANG CHUANCAI'S TUMOR ON HIS RIGHT SIDE OF FACE
9. DOCTOR LOOKING AT CT PICTURES OF HUANG CHUANCAI'S TUMOR
10. (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin), HUANG CHUANCAI, "ELEPHANT MAN", SAYING; "I hope that when my illness is cured, I can go back home and have a nice spring festival with my family."
11. DOCTORS DISCUSSING HUANG CHUANCAI'S CONDITION
12. (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin), LIU LIZHI, CHIEF DOCTOR, SAYING: "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."
13. DOCTOR PUTTING TUBE INTO HUANG CHUANCAI'S NOSE
14. DOCTOR CHECKING HUANG CHUANCAI'S NOSE
15. DOCTOR LOOKING AT SCREEN
16. (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 normal person."
17. HUANG CHUANCAI SITTING ON BED WITH TEAR IN HIS EYE
STORY: 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.
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