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I Am The Elephant Man: A Bodyshock Special
Neurofibromatosis (Nf)Diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis (Nf), a genetic condition that causes growths along the nerves, surgery could have helped to control Huang's condition, but it is dangerous and his parents, who live deep in the countryside, could not afford it.
His story has parallels with Joseph Merrick, the Victorian 'Elephant Man'. Like him, people wanted Huang to join a travelling circus. But, also like Merrick, Huang has now been offered hope by a leading doctor.
Professor Xu, from China's Fuda cancer hospital, is operating on Huang's tumour before it is too late. 'I was shocked – I'd never seen such a massive tumour,' says Professor Xu. 'I'm sure no other doctors had ever touched Huang before. I took a firm hold of his tumour and found where it connected to his body. If I could cut this he could be cured.'
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