A stunning new exhibition of portraits of 15 cancer patients who wear prosthetics has gone on display to the public.

The gallery highlights how methods of producing the prostheses - bespoke removable silicone devices that replace a facial part - have changed over the years.

Stockport local Robin Fahey, 69, who had his nose, eye, part of his cheek and upper teeth removed, is among those who took part in research asking them to compare the comfort of prosthetics made using different methods.

And he hopes the exhibition, called "I'm Still Me", will show that "Cancer has many faces."

Robin's portrait at the exhibition (Image - SWNS)

He said: "I am hoping I'm Still Me will help people see the person behind the prosthesis and understand their tough rehabilitation journey.

"Prostheses act as a shield for the public who might be upset if they found out what we really looked like – they provide a level of public acceptability. 

"By being painted without my prosthesis, I hope people will gain a better understanding of head and neck cancer. I am probably one of the most outgoing people you'd ever meet but waiting for a facial prosthesis wore me down and impacted my mental health. 

"I hope people who have a facial part removed for cancer are informed that they won't wake up with their prosthesis and it will take some time. I also want patients to know that there's life after surgery; having a prosthesis has massively improved my outlook. 

"I think we should be putting these portraits on bus stops to get people talking about face equality. My tagline can be "Cancer has many faces – this is mine."

(Image - SWNS)

Robin said he first noticed a scab on his nose in 2015 but his GP burnt it off his face. 

It then came back in 2019 so he was referred to dermatology and was told he had cancer - which made him lose his nose, left eye, part of his cheek and his top teeth.

He then had to wait for his new facial prosthetic and during this time, he "rarely left his house except for hospital appointments."

But now Robin is "getting used to his new face" and even plans to visit his daughter in America with wife Phyllis, 75.

He said: "I'm very happy with it and I am getting used to my new face. My daughter lives in America and five years ago she bought her own house. 

"I've never seen it, since I couldn't set foot on a plane looking the way I did. We are now planning to visit her, hopefully for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

"The prosthesis is already massively improving my mental outlook. It's giving me the freedom to live my life and I feel more positive."

Rebecca Fogell, 51, has had her cheekbone, part of her nose and eye removed after she was diagnosed with a large tumour that was growing into her bones and nerves.

51-year-old Rebecca Fogell (Image - SWNS)

At first, the NHS nurse said she didn't think a prosthetic eye would be "functional" as you can't see out of it. 

But over time, she "found it better than she anticipated" and thinks it has "given her back her face."

Rebecca, of Leeds, said: "A prosthetic arm or leg would be functional, but I can't see out of my prosthetic eye. 

"We have our prostheses made to fit in with the world, but sometimes you feel you're not the real you anymore. 

"The real you is when you take the prosthesis off indoors, but you hide that from the world.

"Over time, I started wearing my prosthesis and found it better than I anticipated. 

"It gives you back your face and my children love it. 

"You get a bit of you back when you look in the mirror, though my brain has had to adjust."

The exhibition - which features work by artists Alison Murdoch, Sarah Morley, Tracy Ireland, Jenny Mather at Brigid Brind - will run until January 31 at St James Hospital in Leeds.

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