He’s had a history of cancer, beginning when he was in his 50s.

“The first treatment burned 50 off in one go,” he said.

“Most of the them have been on the right side of my face.”

He recalls a youth filled with trips to beach with mates, where “we would rub oil all over us to make us browner.”

Norm, aged 72, retired to the Manning region almost a decade ago with his wife, after spending a lifetime as a purchasing and supply manager in Sydney.

Three years ago, Norm had one skin cancer surgically removed from his right cheek and was given radiation therapy to ensure it did not return.

When he found out earlier this year that the cancer had returned, he faced a new challenge.

Having already received radiation treatment on the same location, this meant he couldn’t have it again and this time, it was quite advanced.

The Manning Great Lakes Skin Cancer Clinic referred him to the Mid North Coast Cancer Institute (MNCCI), who told him that he needed surgery. And not just complex surgery, but also plastic surgery to cover the area with skin taken from his thigh. 

Thankfully, he said, the new Port Macquarie Head and Neck Regional Clinic has just opened and he was booked in as the very first patient.

The clinic is a regional division of the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse cancer hospital at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney.

Lifehouse is an integrated and focused centre offering everything a cancer patient needs in one location, including advanced onco-surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, clinical trials, research, education, complementary therapies and psychosocial support.

What it meant for Norm was that he could have his pre- and post-operation visits at the clinic in Port Macquarie, instead of having to regularly travel to Sydney.

“I just had to go to Sydney the once, to get my surgery,” he said.

Surgeon and director of head neck surgery, Associate Professor Carsten Palme performed the surgery among a team for five doctors.

Norm was in surgery for 12 hours as the doctors, removed a large portion of his face in order to get all of the cancer cells and transplanted skin and muscle from his thigh to his face.

Although his appearance has been temporally transformed, Norm has been reassured the transplanted skin will grow to closely match his facial skin and the scars will fade.

“It’s a lot better than the alternative – not being here in a couple of years,” he smiled.

The surgery took place just before Easter and soon he will be travelling back to the clinic for several long sessions of radiation.

"Radiation is an insurance policy," he said to ensure they’ve got everything this time.

Norm is impressed by how well he has been treated during the process so far.

“And it didn’t cost me a cent,” he explained, with the whole process covered under Medicare.