There is a dire need for a local radiation treatment facility, according to local health care professionals and many people affected by cancer.

One of Bermuda's foremost cancer specialists, oncologist William Lowery, has led the fight for such a facility for several years and recently completed an in-depth report which has been handed to Health Minister Nelson Bascome.

Bobby Miller, a former cancer patient, described the need for local radiation treatment as urgent. He explained that individual treatment sessions were relatively short.

"They tend to last between 15 and 25 minutes,'' he said, "and then for the rest of the day you have nothing else to do.'' And radiation treatment typically is carried out over a four to six week period.

People who can be treated in their geographic area usually incorporate the visits into their regular day, enabling them to continue to work and carry out their normal activities.

"Bermudians have to go abroad for radiation treatment,'' said Mr. Miller.

"They are away from their families for weeks at a time and away from their jobs, which can present a financial burden.

"I would have liked to have been with my wife when she went for treatment, but you can't just tell your boss you need to be away for six weeks,'' he noted.

"And then what do you do for the entire day when your treatment is over?'' he asked.

A local facility would also be a great cost saver to local insurers, according to Mr. Miller.

"Insurance companies pay allowances for airfare, hotel accommodation, food and everyday living expenses -- sometimes even a rental car,'' he said.

"These could be cut out all together and save them money.

"When the insurance companies have to make all these payments it is filtered back to all of us in higher premiums,'' he added. Dr. Peggy Bissell, who chairs the Cancer Care Committee of the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, agreed that a local facility would lessen both the financial and emotional burden of local cancer patients.

"There are some locals who choose not to go away for treatment because they cannot afford it or because they cannot face it alone,'' she said. "It can be devastating to be away from family and friends for a month or more.

"As the hospice doctor, I see many cases where palliative radiation treatment would help improve the quality of life of terminally ill patients,'' she said.

And Dr. Bissell confirmed that a local facility would enable Bermudian patients to continue their jobs and everyday life.

She said: "About half the local cancer sufferers could benefit from a local facility at some point during their illness. Between 80 and 90 percent of them could benefit from the simplest radiation treatment machine the Committee have looked at.'' The report handed to the Health Minister weighs up the pros and cons of two machines the Committee looked into.

According to Dr. Bissell, the less expensive machine runs in the region of $3 million, but has higher maintenance costs than the more expensive unit.

In looking at costs she noted the importance of including salaries for qualified personnel.

"You cannot just send someone on a six-week course to operate and run this facility,'' she said.