I am the elephant man.

Date:
2008
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About this work

Description

This programme is about 31-year-old Huang Chuncai from Daqui Village, South East China. He has enormous facial and body tumours, caused by neurofibromatosis, which have led him to live life as a complete recluse, kept alive only through the support of his family. His family have never been able to afford surgery to help him and he faces certain death unless his tumours are at least partially removed. We follow his story as he travels 300 miles to Fuda Cancer Hospital for Professor Xu to operate on him. Professor Xu uses cryoablation to operate on the tumour - this procedure has only previously been used to treat prostrate cancer, never to remove such a gigantic tumour. After six weeks in hospital Huang returns home with 5 kilos of his tumour removed. However he is still severely disabled by the growths and is in a lot of pain. Professor Xu is to perform further surgery on Huang in three months time.

Publication/Creation

UK : Channel 4, 2008.

Physical description

1 DVD (60 min.) : sound, color, PAL.

Copyright note

September Films for Channel 4

Notes

Broadcast on 7 April, 2008

Type/Technique

Languages

Where to find it

  • LocationStatusAccess
    Closed stores
    4073D

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