A BREAST cancer survivor talked about the importance of having a new radiotherapy centre in Swindon.

Tracy Phillips was diagnosed with the disease in 2014 at the age of 42.

She underwent an operation to remove the tumour and had six sessions of chemotherapy at Great Western Hospital.

But she then had to travel to Oxford from Swindon to get her treatment.

She told the Adver: “I had the journey from Swindon to Oxford every day for 20 treatments. I was quite poorly with the chemo, so I only had a three week break between the chemo and radiotherapy.”

Tracy, who is an ambassador for the GWH’s charity Brighter Futures helped out with a few events to help raise money.

She said: “I saw an advert to raise money for the hospital and at the time the charity was raising money for a breast cancer machine. I got on board and started helping them. And then I’ve heard about the radiotherapy unit.

“I’ve done quite a few speeches for them at different events. I think once people hear your story, they’re a bit more understanding about why we’re doing it.”

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The 49-year-old attended the ceremony on Monday.

“It was an honour and a privilege to be here to see the radiotherapy unit. It was quite emotional and brought back memories even though the machines aren’t there yet,” she said.

“And to think that people are going to benefit, they haven’t got that long drive, I think it’s a major thing.”

Tracy said it would have made a big difference to have a Radiotherapy Centre in Swindon when she needed it.

She added: “After so many months of chemotherapy, the drive every day for only a 15-minute treatment, it’s very tiring. There are so many people that if they haven’t got a car, they have to rely on hospital transport.”