survivors Patty and Bobby Miller.

The couple hold that a local centre, such as the one the Bermuda TB Cancer and Health Association is aiming for, could substantially reduce costs associated with cancer treatment and would have helped tremendously in alleviating some of their fears of the disease.

The husband and wife team know firsthand how difficult it can be to deal with a cancer diagnosis.

Each had to face the news that they had cancer alone as there was nowhere in Bermuda for them to go and gather any information on the topic.

Mrs. Miller was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago and her husband has gone through two operations to remove cancerous growths in his mouth.

In an interview with The Royal Gazette , Mrs. Miller recalled the deep fear and isolation she felt because she had nowhere to go and get answers to very practical questions.

"I was all alone,'' she said,"and that was very difficult.

"There was absolutely no one that I could go to and talk about anything to do with the actual illness.

"I was away for two months having surgery,'' she added, "but I was lucky because I had family that lived close by.

"Lots of Bermudian people go away and have no support. The disease is scary enough and when you add to that being in a strange place all alone, it only heightens their stress.'' Mrs. Miller noted that she was in the dark about treatment options and even where to go to find out about them.

A native Bostonian, she was directed by a cousin who is a nurse there where she should go for a second opinion.

"I was lucky because I do have a cousin who works as a nurse in Boston but not everyone has,'' she said.

She pointed out that a cancer resource centre would keep on hand much of the information she was only able to obtain from her cousin.

"It is so important to have family or some support system around you while you are undergoing treatment,'' she said.

"At a cancer resource centre, Bermudians could research the best facilities in areas closest to where they have a support system,'' she continued, "so that they could go to Atlanta, Toronto, Boston, even England, wherever they have family or friends, and they would not have to undergo treatment completely alone.

"My cousin recommended that I go to the Faulkner Breast Cancer Centre and after that I researched the facility on the Internet.

"I discovered it was listed in the top ten breast cancer treatment centres and made the necessary appointments,'' she added.

After attending the Faulkner Breast Cancer Centre, specialists advised Mrs.

Miller that she did not need a full mastectomy but could opt for a simple removal of the cancerous growth -- a lumpectomy.

She said the alternative treatment option was less expensive, which translated into savings for her and her medical insurance company.

"Another savings to the insurance company was accommodation,'' she continued.

"I spent less than the $100 per day the insurance company allots for accommodation because I was able to find an apartment right next door to the hospital,'' she continued.

"If we had a Cancer Resource Centre here this information would be readily available for patients going overseas for treatment.

"There are real estate agencies out there that the Centre would register with and these types of relationships would be established already for patients,'' she claimed.

Her husband echoed her sentiments. "It would be good to have a place in Bermuda where the information is self-contained.

"I had to do all the research on the Internet for Patty and I,'' Mr. Miller continued, "and we had no help.'' The TB Cancer and Health Association last month launched a $3 million fund-raising drive to finance the project with a sold out gala dinner featuring recording artist Peabo Bryson as the evening's entertainment.