Elephant Man disease gets six pounds of tumor
- 27-year-old Enrique Galvan was born with a genetic disease known as neurofibromatosis
- The rare disorder causes large, benign tumors to form on nerve tissue.
- In July 2018, Galvan met doctors from the University of California Irvine Medical Center, who were working with an NGO in Paraguay
- After nine months of waiting behind red tape, hospital administrators agreed to take Galvan on as a patient
- On June 2, in an eight-hour operation, surgeons removed six pounds of tumors from his chest, shoulders and back
- Galvan is recovering well and says he’s looking forward to going back home and playing soccer
A man from Paraguay with a rare ‘elephant man’ disorder had six pounds of tumors removed in a life-saving operation. Enrique Galvan, 27, was born with a genetic disease known as neurofibromatosis, which causes large, benign tumors to grow on nerve tissue.
But last year, he met doctors from the University of California Irvine Medical Center, who were working with an NGO in Paraguay.
After learning of his case, the physicians pushed hospital administrators to agree to take Galvan on as a patient so they could bring him to the US and operate him.
Galvan is recovering well and says he’s looking forward to going back home and playing soccer
Enrique Galvan, 27, from Asuncion, Paraguay, was born with a genetic disease known as neurofibromatosis.
Neurofibromatosis is a rare disorder that causes large, benign tumors to form on nerve tissue. Doctors performed at least five surgeries on Galvan (pictured) in Paraguay but without much success. Neurofibromatosis is a rare, genetic disease that causes benign tumors to form on nerve tissue.
It is caused by mutations in the NF1 gene, which provides instructions for making a protein called neurofibromin that suppresses tumors and helps cells grow and divide normally
Galvan said he first noticed his condition when he was seven years old because that’s when his tumors began growing rapidly over his chest, shoulders, and back. ‘It was difficult because of discrimination, but there are always people with a good heart.’
In July 2018, Galvan met doctors from the University of California Irvine Medical Center, who were working with an NGO in Luque, Paraguay. Pictured: Galvan (center) ahead of surgery with plastic surgeon Dr. Mark Kobayashi (right) and trauma surgeon Dr. Cris Barrios (left)
After nine months, the administrators at UC Irvine agreed to take Galvan on as a charity case. Pictured: Galvan, center, is examined by the care team before his surgery
‘I’m with an NGO called IMAHelps and, every year, we do an annual mission trip to Central or South America,’ he told DailyMail.com. ‘Last year, Enrique showed up for consultations with the plastic surgeon,’ he said.
According to Dr Barrios, the plastic surgeon evaluated him and said the surgery he needed was too extensive to be done in Paraguay.
‘Just seeing a look of disillusionment on his face, I felt so bad for him,’ said Dr Barrios. ‘And the plastic surgeon said: “Wouldn’t it be great to do [the surgery] in the US with all the bells and whistles we have up here?”‘
After nine months, of negotiating and red tape, the administrators at UC Irvine agreed to take Galvan on as a charity case.
‘I think I got the news in February, I think the first week of February of this year…and that was the best news in the world,’ Galvan said.
On June 2, in an eight-hour operation, the surgical team removed six pounds of tissue.
‘We got rid of the stuff that really bothered him, the skin on his chest, on his shoulders and his back,’ said Dr Barrios.
‘Some of the stuff will grow back, but we’re giving him a larger window than he would have.’
On June 2, in eight-hour operations, surgeons removed six pounds of tumors from his chest, shoulders, and back. Pictured: Galvan (left) with Dr. Barrios (center) and Dr. Kobayashi (right)
The doctors will be returning to Paraguay with IMAHelps to perform a second surgery on Galvan for his other tumors. Pictured: Doctors discuss Galvan’s case before his surgery ‘I am excited that I am going to be able to do the things I love most, namely sports and my service to God,’ he said.
Dr Barrios will be returning to Paraguay with IMAHelps next month to perform a second surgery on Galvan.
‘The fact that I can help for no other reason than this is the right thing to do is very gratifying,’ he said. ‘It’s getting back to why we do medicine in the first place.’