Full Breakdown
Veteran Pastor Confronts Rare Nasal Cancer with Surgery and Prosthetic Reconstruction
By Drooid · · How we work
A Persistent Symptom Leads to a Cancer Diagnosis
In November 2025, former Navy serviceman and executive pastor Alfred Dewayne Sutton began experiencing unusually severe nosebleeds that occurred roughly once a month. Despite initial attempts to attribute the bleeding to dry air, his wife’s insistence prompted a visit to the Veterans Health Administration. After a CT scan, a physician informed Sutton that the imaging revealed a suspicious mass in his right nasal cavity. A subsequent biopsy confirmed adenoid cystic carcinoma, a rare malignancy that accounts for about 1 percent of head-and-neck cancers and affects roughly 1,200 U.S. patients each year.
Diagnosis and Surgical Intervention
Given the tumor’s aggressive location, doctors recommended extensive surgery. On February 12, Sutton underwent a total rhinectomy—complete removal of the nose—along with bilateral functional endoscopic sinus surgery, a medial maxillectomy, placement of zygomatic implants, and a skin graft from his left thigh to reconstruct the nasal floor. Pathology classified the cancer as T4a, indicating locally advanced disease with extensive perineural invasion, which heightened the need for postoperative radiation.
Post-Surgical Challenges and Recovery
Following the operation, Sutton faced a range of physical effects, including nasal dryness, mucus buildup, fatigue, and significant hearing loss in his right ear. Radiation therapy targeted microscopic disease but added further discomfort. Over several months, he managed a facial wound covered by a bandage while adapting to the altered appearance and functional changes.
Rebuilding Appearance with a Prosthetic Nose
On September 22, five days before his 44th birthday, Sutton received a custom-made prosthetic nose. The device restored a more familiar facial profile and marked a symbolic milestone in his return to public life.
Reflections on Identity and Purpose
Sutton emphasizes that the experience reshaped his view of health, identity, and purpose. He urges others not to dismiss seemingly minor symptoms, noting that even uncommon cancers can affect real people. While his appearance changed, he stresses that his faith, family, and role as a pastor remain intact, illustrating a broader message that survival involves adapting to a new self rather than simply returning to a former one.