China's Elephant Man': 39-year-old with a massive 33lb tumour growing from his face turns down offers to join a freak show
A man who has a massive 33lb tumour growing from his face has turned down offers to join a 'freak show'.
Huang Chuncai, 39, is known as 'China's Elephant Man' and has been the subject of medical studies and documentaries over the years.
Doctors have diagnosed him with neurofibromatosis - the name for a number of genetic conditions that cause swellings or lumps.
And he is believed to be suffering from the world's worst known case of the condition, experts say.
Despite having had four attempts to remove the enormous growth, he still has the huge growth on his face.
His first surgery was in 2007, but he has undergone three more in recent years through the help of donations.
The procedures helped to reduce what was and still is the record for the world's biggest facial tumour.
But his appearance still stops him from venturing out into public.
Local reports suggest that his growths appear to be slowly developing once more.
But for the moment he is able to lead a relatively normal life and has continued to decline offers to show him off as some sort of 'monster'.
He first developed a facial tumour when Huang, from a rural area of central China, was just four years old.
Endless ridicule from other children caused him to drop out after just a few years in education.
He now lives with his parents and siblings, who have become accustomed to his appearance.
Despite his nickname, Huang does not suffer from the disorder associated with the original Elephant Man, Joseph Merrick.
Mr Merrick was thought to have had Proteus syndrome - a condition which involves symptoms such as abnormal growth of the bones, skin and head.
NEUROFIBROMATOSIS: WHAT IS THE CONDITION?
Neurofibromatosis is the name for a number of genetic conditions that cause swellings or lumps.
Although many people who have the condition inherit it from one of their parents, up to 50 per cent develop it randomly from a gene mutation before they are born.
Despite their alarming appearance, the growths and swellings - called neurofibromas and caused by a growth of cells - are not cancerous or contagious.
The condition has long been associated with the ‘Elephant Man,’ the name given to Joseph Carey Merrick, who was severely disfigured.
However, in 1986, a new theory emerged that Mr Merrick may actually have had Proteus syndrome, a condition which involves symptoms such as abnormal growth of the bones, skin and head.
The confusion was again compounded in 2001 when it was proposed that he had suffered from a combination of neurofibromatosis type one (NF1) and Proteus syndrome.
However, DNA tests on his hair and bones have proven inconclusive.
Arabic:
الرجل الفيل في الصين: هوانغ كونكي، 39: ورم الوجه الأكبر في العالم
Bosnian (Latin):
Kina je čovjek slon: Huang Chuncai, 39: svjetski najveći lica tumor
Chinese Simplified:
中国象人︰ 黄春，39︰ 世界上最大的面部肿瘤
Chinese Traditional:
中國象人︰ 黃春，39︰ 世界上最大的面部腫瘤
Dutch:
China's Elephant Man: Huang Chuncai, 39:'s werelds grootste gezicht tumor
English:
China's Elephant Man : Huang Chuncai, 39 : World's Biggest Facial Tumour
Filipino:
Ng China elepante tao: Huang Chuncai, 39: pinakamalaking Facial Tumour sa mundo
French:
Elephant Man de la Chine : Huang Chuncai, 39 : tumeur faciale plus grand du monde
German:
Chinas Elephant Man: Huang Chuncai, 39: weltweit größte Gesichts-Tumor
Hindi:
चीन के हाथी आदमी: हुआंग Chuncai, 39: दुनिया के सबसे बड़े चेहरे ट्यूमर
Indonesian:
Pria gajah Cina: Huang Chuncai, 39: tumor wajah terbesar di dunia
Italian:
Uomo elefante della Cina: Huang Chuncai, 39: tumore facciale più grande del mondo
Japanese:
中国のエレファント ・ マン: 黄 Chuncai、39: 世界最大顔面腫瘍
Korean:
중국의 코끼리 남자: 황 Chuncai, 39: 세계에서 가장 큰 얼굴 종양
Norwegian Bokmål:
Kinas Elephant Man: Huang Chuncai, 39: verdens største ansikts svulst
TAGS
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48-year-old woman nicknamed 'elephant face' due to tumours on her face finds support and friendship through live-streaming
Liu Ying, 48, from China was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis aged nine
She suffered loss of sight in her right eye and facial deformity
Last year, she started live-streaming and hope to crowd fund surgery fee
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