"As I continue to grow, it will have an adverse effect on my internal organs, particularly my heart," he says. "Since I was diagnosed with acromegaly at age 10, I have had five surgeries, three of which were to remove the pituitary tumor. However, the doctors couldn't completely remove the tumor due to the risk of causing blindness, stroke and even death."

"Two years ago, I had radiotherapy, which reduced the tumor's size considerably," Mr. Kosen continues. "My last surgery was on my knee, which dislocated as a result of my height. I was in the hospital for six months and this is why I have to use sticks when I walk. I'm hoping to find a sponsor for physiotherapy to help me build up muscle tone to the point I don't need the sticks anymore."


The 27-year-old's knee problems ultimately precluded him from a regular job, but he has been able to earn a living through TV show appearances and other media opportunities.

Despite the challenges of living with acromegaly, Mr. Kosen is optimistic about his prospects and derives a certain amount of pride from his world record setting dimensions.

"I won the title of the world's tallest man in September 2009 from the previous holder Xiu Xung from China, who is 7'9"," he notes. "It appears that I am still growing and have grown a couple of centimeters over the last year. I was nervous and excited about my Gamma Knife treatment-I had never heard of Gamma Knife before because I am from a very small village in Turkey. I just want to live a regular life, so anything that can help me I'm willing to try. My hopes and optimism have kept me going through some very difficult periods in my life, and it is with the same optimism that I take on my next challenges."

About Elekta

Elekta is a human care company pioneering significant innovations and clinical solutions for treating cancer and brain disorders. The company develops sophisticated, state-of-the-art tools and treatment planning systems for radiation therapy and radiosurgery, as well as workflow enhancing software systems across the spectrum of cancer care.

Stretching the boundaries of science and technology, providing intelligent and resource-efficient solutions that offer confidence to both healthcare providers and patients, Elekta aims to improve, prolong and even save patient lives, making the future possible.

Today, Elekta solutions in oncology and neurosurgery are used in over 5,000 hospitals globally, and every day more than 100,000 patients receive diagnosis, treatment or follow-up with the help of a solution from the Elekta Group.

Elekta employs around 2,500 employees globally. The corporate headquarter is located in Stockholm, Sweden, and the company is listed on the Nordic Exchange under the ticker EKTAb. For more information about Elekta, please visit www.elekta.com.

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