TRAVELLING along busy roads for more than three hours every day would be enough to frustrate anyone but when you’re battling cancer it can be a nightmare.

For five days each week Tom Francis, 76, of Haydon Wick, makes the journey from Swindon to Oxford to receive life-saving radiotherapy treatment.

Tom, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer last December, began a 37-session course of radiotherapy in May and is one of 700 people who have to travel from Swindon to Oxford for treatment every year.

The GWH's Brighter Futures appeal is aiming to raise more than £2m to equip a new radiotherapy centre at the hospital.

He said: “Swindon is in desperate need of a radiotherapy unit. I would go as far as to say it’s vital, essential.

“Cancer affects anyone, often without a reason and a unit in Swindon can't be built quickly enough.

“Travelling is so stressful. It’s such a busy road to Oxford and at the moment it’s 50mph for most of the way.

“The journey alone is a three-hour round trip, and treatment a further hour. It is exhausting.

“Radiotherapy is known to tire people and combined with the fact you are dealing with a cancer diagnosis you have this added stress.”

His appointment time is 9.15am, which means he has to leave home at 6.30 to beat the traffic and get a parking place.

Tom’s wife Loretta, 74, said: “This radiotherapy unit has got to happen.

“The trouble is you may start off fresh on your first week of treatment but it lasts for 37 sessions. Tom is left absolutely shattered and he can’t do anything when he gets home, he just has to sleep.

“Life has come to a halt for us this year.”

Every morning since his treatment began in May, Loretta has driven her husband to Oxford’s Churchill Hospital and is desperate for other people not to have to go through the same ordeal.

Another issue concerns the nature of Tom’s illness.

Loretta said: “With prostate cancer, the patient has to drink over a pint of water before treatment but you always feel as though you need to use the toilet.

“That’s where the stress is because on the way home we’re constantly looking for somewhere to stop.

“Being on the road when you’ve just had radiotherapy treatment is bad enough but this just makes it worse.”

The couple, who have been married for 54 years, had nothing but praise for staff at Churchill’s Hospital.

Tom said: “I would add the staff at Oxford are like family. They’re understanding, patient and thoughtful but that doesn't compensate for the impact of the travelling involved.”

Loretta said: “All the staff at GWH and at Oxford are wonderful and they are the only positive in this whole situation.”

Tom’s treatment is due to finish on July 19 but there are thousands of other people just like him, not yet diagnosed, who desperately need radiotherapy to be available to them in Swindon.

To find out more about the Brighter Futures appeal and to donate go to www.brighterfuturesgwh.nhs.uk