China's "Hippo Man" has nose the size of a fist
Elaine Chow,
Sep 16, 2010 23:00 EDT (125 days ago)
on Shanghaiist (Original Article)
In Northern China's Jilin City lives a man whose nose is as big as an adult fist. 42-year-old Fei Jianjun suffers from rhino carcinoma, a severe form of nose cancer, and his face has been so altered that villagers call him the "Hippo Man."
His condition began last year in September, when a pimple appeared at the end of his nose. But the "pimple" never stopped growing, getting so large it began to distort his face and push his eyes to the side.
Besides having the disfigurement of a large tumor growing on his face, Fei also has to deal with failing vision. As his rhino carcinoma got worse, his vision dropped sharply. Now he can only see a few meters away and sunlight stings his eyes.
Unable to afford a doctor, Fei thought he was destined to die, shunned by all but family and looking like a monster, until the Jilin Military Hospital stepped in mid-August to offer him free treatment. Doctor Zhang Jianjun of the hospital diagnosed Fei with nose cancer and said he would have died within six months without immediate treatment.
"We'll give him radiation therapy," Doctor Zhang said, "first to shrink the tumor underneath, and then we'll perform plastic surgery on him."
He is now in the process of undergoing that treatment. I sincerely hope he comes out okay.
Elaine Chow,
Sep 16, 2010 23:00 EDT (125 days ago)
on Shanghaiist (Original Article)
In Northern China's Jilin City lives a man whose nose is as big as an adult fist. 42-year-old Fei Jianjun suffers from rhino carcinoma, a severe form of nose cancer, and his face has been so altered that villagers call him the "Hippo Man."
His condition began last year in September, when a pimple appeared at the end of his nose. But the "pimple" never stopped growing, getting so large it began to distort his face and push his eyes to the side.
Besides having the disfigurement of a large tumor growing on his face, Fei also has to deal with failing vision. As his rhino carcinoma got worse, his vision dropped sharply. Now he can only see a few meters away and sunlight stings his eyes.
Unable to afford a doctor, Fei thought he was destined to die, shunned by all but family and looking like a monster, until the Jilin Military Hospital stepped in mid-August to offer him free treatment. Doctor Zhang Jianjun of the hospital diagnosed Fei with nose cancer and said he would have died within six months without immediate treatment.
"We'll give him radiation therapy," Doctor Zhang said, "first to shrink the tumor underneath, and then we'll perform plastic surgery on him."
He is now in the process of undergoing that treatment. I sincerely hope he comes out okay.
