WYRE Forest women who have made gruelling journeys to receive vital cancer treatment outside Worcestershire are backing a bid for a radiotherapy unit in the county.

Bosom Friends, a support group for women who have experienced breast cancer, is getting behind Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust's application for Government funding to build a satellite treatment centre.

The Worcestershire-based unit would help to reduce the journeys cancer patients have to make to receive radiotherapy currently not available in the county.

Around 24 members of Bosom Friends, which meets at Kidderminster Hospital's Mill-brook Suite each week, have experienced or are undergoing radiotherapy for breast cancer at New Cross in Wolverhamp-ton, Cheltenham or Coventry.

Jenny Hughes, Pam Brewer and Lynne Marshall have all had to travel to Wolverhamp-ton's New Cross Hospital for treatment.

Mrs Hughes, diagnosed eight years ago, said: "I had 20 doses of radiotherapy, which is quite a chunk out of your life when you have to keep travelling to Wolverhampton every day."

The 59-year-old, of Wolverley, added: "We can't miss this opportunity to support the bid and it is vital that people act, as everyone is a potential user. There is a Government initiative that says that people who require radiotherapy have to have it within four weeks of being told they need it.

"But, with so many people travelling to places like Wolverhampton this doesn't always happen and people have to wait. Having a unit in Worcestershire would improve the waiting time."

Mrs Marshall, of Dowles Road, Bewdley, who was diagnosed five years ago and is now in remission, said: "It is bad enough that you are not feeling well and then you have to travel to Wolverhampton every day for three weeks, which is totally dreadful."

The 66-year-old added: "It is awful that people who have to rely so much on friends and family to take them every day cannot get the treatment they need closer to home."

Pam Brewer, 68, was diagnosed with breast cancer six years ago and said she would often travel from her Bewdley home to Wolv-erhampton, only to find it a wasted journey because the machines were not working and her session was cancelled.

She said: "I would hate to think I would have to go to New Cross now because it is so horrendous with the journey and the parking, which is a nightmare. You can never get parked, as there are so many people there.

"A county unit is vital for future generations, particularly for elderly and disabled people, who would find it difficult to travel that distance."

Another member of the group fighting for the centre, Sheila Pratt, of Kidderminster, said she was concerned for people who had to rely on hospital transport as travel times were restricted and they would often be out all day for treatment, which only took 10 minutes.

The 62-year-old, who was diagnosed in 1998, added: "I was lucky I didn't have to have radiotherapy but I have talked to the other women in our group and know what they have been through and why it's important to have this unit in Worcestershire."

The group has been collecting signatures for a petition and writing to local MPs, including Wyre Forest's Dr Richard Taylor, WIs and other women's groups, to gather support.

Mrs Hughes, a founder member of Bosom Friends, said: "At the end of the day, the health services are ours and we must say what we want. The unit is not for us, it is for future generations. We do stand a good chance of getting it if we can get the support."

For further information about the campaign or Bosom Friends, contact Mrs Pratt on 01562 68822 or Mrs Marshall on 01299 403793.