Nose Cancer Survivor Reconstructs Face with Rib Cartilage

A Leeds woman, Mel Frisby, has shared her harrowing experience after being diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer, sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma. The first signs appeared in September 2022 during a holiday in Turkey, where she experienced a nosebleed, later noticing a peculiar lump on her nose.

After returning to Leeds, her condition worsened, leading to an A&E visit and a diagnosis of osteomyelitis, an infection of the nasal bone. Further tests revealed a soft tissue mass, and on November 7, 2022, she received the devastating cancer diagnosis.

Mel underwent extensive surgery on November 24, 2022, resulting in the removal of 80% of her nose. Surgeons reconstructed her nose using cartilage from her rib and skin from her forehead in a complex procedure that took four weeks.

Following surgery, Mel endured 30 rounds of radiotherapy over six weeks, which unfortunately caused her reconstructed nose to collapse. Despite being cancer-free for three years, her hospital has stated that further reconstructive surgery to improve her nose's appearance is not possible with current treatments.

Mel has since been fitted with a prosthetic nose and is exploring potential future treatments. She now uses her experience to raise awareness about head and neck cancers, emphasizing the importance of early detection and encouraging others to seek medical attention.