A pensioner has been fitted with a magnetic nose after his own had to be removed when he was diagnosed with a rare cancer . Richard Curry , from Loveclough in Lancashire , was told he had malignant melanoma in his septum , the thin strip which separates the nostrils . He was warned that he would have to have his nose removed to stop the cancer from spreading but could be fitted with a prosthetic . Pensioner Richard Curry , who wears a prosthetic nose attached to his face using magnets , after his own had to be removed when he was diagnosed with cancer . But in order to make sure that the new nose stayed in place , the 71-year-old then had to have magnetic implants inserted into his cheekbones and nasal cavity during a procedure at the Royal Blackburn Hospital . And now Mr Curry has spoken of his shock at how successful the operation has been of keeping his new nose in place . He said : 'Losing my nose was something of a shock but I did n't have much choice because this kind of cancer is one of the most dangerous you can get . The 71-yer-old had a procedure to have metal implants inserted into his cheekbones and nasal cavity in order to hold his prosthetic in place . ' I ws just grateful it was caught in time and removed , and when they mentioned they could attach a new one with magnets , I just thought it was amazing . ' Mr Curry 's nose was removed in 2013 , after he spotted traces of blood in a tissue , and the implants were gradually inserted of the course of the next 12 months . He added : 'In the early days I was n't quite sure how much adhesive to put on , and my stick-on nose would sometimes fall off in hot weater , for example . 'And there was an incident in Asda which gave the girl on the till a bit of a shock . 'The implants were all ready last September and I was so pleased with the results . 'It 's comfortable and it looks good , and I 've even still got my sense of smell . ' I just need to get it touched up for colour every now and then , like before going on holiday so it matches my skin . ' Mr Curry , a retired civil servant , who lives with his partner James Rogerson now wears his new nose all day but removes it at night when he goes to bed . A check-up last month found no signs of the cancer returning when he met with prosthetist Tony Simpson , maxillofacial surgeon Gary Cousin and ear , nose and throat specialist Paddy Morar . Mr Morar said : 'Cancers of the nose are not that common at all , you probably only get one every three years or so , so this was a very unusual procedure . Mr Curry 's prosthetic nose , which is held on by magnets . Specialist Paddy Morar says it is fairly common to use magnets to attach prosthetic ears , but was the first time they had used them to attach a nose . 'Magnets are used quite commonly with prosthetic ears , but this was the first time we had used them to attach a nose . 'Richard could n't have radiotherapy so it had to be surgery and we were extremely impressed by his attitude throughout , he 's a very strong character and a model patient . 'It just shows there is life after this kind of radical surgery . '
hay Curry , 71 , was diagnosed with malignant melanoma in his septum . Was told he had to have his tumor removed to stop the progression of the cancer . Had magnetic implants inserted into his cheekbones and nasal cavity . Now wears a prosthetic glove which is connected to his face via magnets .