The man with no face - medical science offers new hope to face-eating tumor man
Above: Jose Mestre and his sister Guida in London. Pictures below show Jose aged 14 when the tumor was still small, and as he is now.
A victim of horrific facial disfigurement - known as "the man with no face" - has been given new hope by the advancement of medical science.
Jose Mestre, from Lisbon, Portugal, has been losing his face to a huge growth for the past 35 years, distorting it out of all recognition - and it's still growing.
The tumor on 51-year-old Jose's face is a collection of blood vessels that have expanded, producing a raised red area on the skin.
Jose was born with a strawberry-coloured birthmark on his upper lip. At puberty it began growing, eventually smothering his lips, nose and one of his eyes. Now it is 33cm long and weighs 3kg.
But Jose's religious faith - as a Jehovah's Witness he refuses to accept a blood transfusion - has prevented him from having surgery to remove the growth.
Jose's rare condition was the subject of a Discovery Channel TV documentary 'The Man With No Face', part of the 'My Shocking Story' series.
It reveals how top medical experts in London have now held out hope of helping Jose, a well-known figure around the streets of Lisbon.
A leading British surgeon has offered to treat Jose using ultrasound waves to coagulate the blood before the operation.
This should remove the risk of heavy bleeding - satisfying his religious beliefs about blood transfusions in the process.
Dr Iain Hutchison, of St Bartholomew's in London, is confident an operation with a harmonic scalpel could make him look a lot more normal.
Discovery Channel said: "Surrounded by a loving family, it seems incredible that he has not been treated and his face was allowed to grow so big. However, through years of medical misinformation, some misdiagnosis, lack of finances, and reluctance to undergo treatment due to religious beliefs, the growth has continued to obliterate his face."
My Shocking Story follows Jose on a journey through Europe to seek medical advice for one last chance to stop his face from suffocating him.
In this journey of a lifetime he travels by train, via Paris, to Britain, to meet the top experts in London. He goes through a series of tests, consultations, and meets other patients with a similar affliction. In London he also spends time with his sister Guida and the rest of his family, enjoys being a tourist in London, while making the biggest decision of his life.
Jose's dream is to live a long and normal life. Following the showing of the Discovery documentary he continues to adhere to his 'no blood transfusion' religious principles. But he has agreed to go back to the London hospital in 2008, when doctors hope to carry out specialist surgery to begin removing parts of his tumor, without the need for blood transfusions.
SSCE, BSC, ABS, ADN, AAS, AAGS, PHD, MASTERS....I'm Qualified, So Shut Up And Listen .
Posted: at 2-07-2009 01:02 PM (14 years ago) | Gistmaniac
i beg,,,,i never chop.....dont bring dis kind of thing around... let him just forget his jehova witness stuff, and go for the surgery... if it happened to the founder of their church, wouldn't he have gone for the surgery.
Posted: at 2-07-2009 01:06 PM (14 years ago) | Hero
yep, surgery would be best, i don't think even God would want him to be that deformed when help is available. love is blind but i don't think my love can handle this one.
Posted: at 2-07-2009 01:22 PM (14 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Oh Lord! this is sad.. .. no matter the situation we find ourselves.. we should be thankful of this priceless gift of life... and also of good health...
Posted: at 2-07-2009 05:46 PM (14 years ago) | Upcoming
SAmyrocko at 2-07-2009 05:54 PM (14 years ago) (m)
Omg!! that pic is disgusting. damn it! Hhmmm, Honestly l don't really know the kinda woman that would still love such person. lnspite of his health condition.
Life is one big road with lots of signs, so when you are riding through th
Posted: at 2-07-2009 05:54 PM (14 years ago) | Addicted Hero
naijadbest at 2-07-2009 07:43 PM (14 years ago) (m)
I only see the picture and i give glory and big thanks to the almighty ALLAH,i pray this will never happen to any of my people and my naijapals, AMMIIINNNNAAAAA.
Posted: at 2-07-2009 07:43 PM (14 years ago) | Upcoming
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vivian07
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