In March Dr. Hartmut P.H. Neumann received the Hufeland Prize for Preventive Medicine for his work in VHL over the past 15 years. (See also pages 6-7). Joyce Graff attended the award ceremony, and combined this trip to Germany with a trip to Poland and Belgium.

"The contrast between the previously Socialist East (East Germany and Poland) and the Democratic West of Europe is striking. Where in the West there has been money to rebuild both the town and the sense of civic pride, in the East resources were taken away to the Soviet Union and the reconstruction, if any, is of gray concrete block buildings covered with the soot that belches from uncontrolled smokestacks." Throughout east and western Europe there has been "health care for all" throughout this time, but in the East few hospitals had imaging equipment until the last five years, and there was little visibility of VHL. Most people got no preventive care. While there are many expert and caring physicians, the lack of diagnosis and preventive care has left a large number of people with VHL in the woeful physical state that was common worldwide until 20 years ago. Dr. Karol Krzystolik and the team of doctors at the Hereditary Cancer Center in Szeczin are working to identify family members at risk for VHL throughout Poland, and begin now a program of preventive care like the one which Dr. Neumann has helped to pioneer.

The Hufeland Prize Committee were very impressed with the progress Dr. Neumann has been able to make in keeping people with VHL healthy over the last 15 years. The previous evening I had spoken with one of his first patients, a woman in her 50's with children and grandchildren. She and her brother both have VHL. She said that previously the people in her family died mysteriously in their 30's of heart disease or stroke or an occasional brain tumor. Dr. Neumann finally diagnosed VHL and worked with them to remove adrenal tumors and screen for other problems. She and her brother are now grandparents, and their children and grandchildren are healthy. They are thrilled with the difference his research and care have made in their lives.

Living in developed countries and in an age of relatively routine preventive care, it is easy to forget what a difference it has made. In the last 20 years, the life expectancy of people with VHL has increased at least 20 years. It takes vigilance, but it’s worth it. Many thanks to Dr. Neumann and the thousands of other physicians worldwide who have made it possible for us to enjoy these advances. It is up to us to implement them, and to build upon them.

As printed in the VHL Family Forum 7:2, June 1999. For permission to reprint, please contact VHL Family Alliance, editor@vhl.org. Further information is available from the VHL Family Alliance, info@vhl.org.