Background
Kraus was born in and survived a Nazi forced labor camp during World World War World War II
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Paul Kraus
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In 1997, Kraus was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a type of cancer caused by asbestos. Despite his "terminal" diagnosis Kraus is considered to be the longest known mesothelioma survivor in the world. His book Surviving and Other Cancers: A Patient’s Guide is a best-selling book on the subject.
Due to rail destruction by Allied bombing, the journey ended at a forced labor camp established in the Viehofen flood plain near Saint Pölten, Lower Austria.
Paul Kraus was born in the camp on 20 October 1944. Inadequate nutrition, lack of hygiene, shootings by the Steamship, failed attempts to escape, and bombings by the Allied Forces caused many deaths at the camp.
As of today, there are only six living survivors of the – Greta Balog, Olga Balog, Vera Mahler, Susan Fisher, Peter Kraus, and Paul Kraus. Paul Kraus received his Bachelor at Macquarie University and a Master of Arts and Education from the University of Sydney.
During a summer vacation as an undergraduate student, he worked adjacent to an asbestos factory and his clothes and body were covered with fine asbestos dust.
Decades later, he was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma, the asbestos cancer. Due to his advanced metastases, doctors gave him little hope and suggested he had only weeks to live. Kraus pursued a course of integrative care combining modern medicine, traditional medicine, herbal medicine, and alternative medicine.
Over the last 30 years, Kraus has worked as an author and educator.
He has written several books including books co-written with Ian Gawler.
