Three years ago, Tracy Summerfield, a mother from Manchester, was diagnosed with skin cancer. The tumor grew from her nostril to her lip, and she faced the possibility of being disfigured on her wedding day.
In April 2015, Tracy noticed a small spot inside her right nostril. Her GP initially thought it was an infection and gave her antibiotic cream, but it didn’t clear up. By July 2018, the spot had spread, causing visible scars on her face. An emergency biopsy revealed a cancerous tumor at the back of her nose, spreading to her upper lip. Tracy needed surgery, which could leave her disfigured.
Determined to overcome this, Tracy proposed to her long-term partner, Colin, and they planned to marry in Barbados. In August 2018, Tracy had her first operation to remove the tumor. Though painful, the surgery was successful, and no further treatment was needed. However, the surgery left her nose and lip disfigured.
Three weeks later, she had more surgery to reconstruct her face using skin and cartilage from her ear. The process left her with significant scars, causing her great distress. Colin’s unconditional love and support helped, but Tracy struggled to accept her new appearance.
With five weeks before the wedding, Tracy contacted Look Good Feel Better, a charity that provides makeovers for cancer patients. After a successful trial, she felt like herself again. On her wedding day, she used the makeup techniques she learned to conceal her scars. When she walked down the aisle in Barbados, Colin told her she looked stunning.