MARKET researcher Kim Taylor was one of the first outpatients to visit Oxford’s new £109m cancer centre today.

The mother-of-one, from Abingdon, visited the centre at the Churchill Hospital in Headington for a check-up after having her womb removed when a biopsy revealed signs of cancer.

Mrs Taylor, 51, was one of the first oncology outpatients at the centre, which has brought all existing cancer services together under one roof.

She visited with her husband Paul, 51.

She told the Oxford Mail she opted to have her treatment on the NHS — despite having private medical cover.

She said: “I’ve got private medical insurance, but I was told it couldn’t beat the timing of the NHS, so I didn’t bother going private.

“All my treatment has been done on the NHS and all the appointments have come through very promptly — the only time an appointment was delayed was when it snowed.

“When you discover you have cancer, you experience all sorts of different emotions — you think ‘why me?’ and there is worry, anxiety and a few tears.

“But then you realise you have to try to sort it out the best you can and that’s when you turn to the experts.

“A hysterectomy is a major operation. It was carried out at the Horton Hospital in Banbury in November and I recovered quite quickly.

“Following the operation, I had a course of radiotherapy treatment at the Churchill Hospital which lasted about six weeks and I managed to get back to work in January.

“I’m here at the new cancer centre so staff can assess where my treatment should go from here. I’m very impressed with the new centre — it’s big, modern and has a very calm atmosphere, with plenty of space.

“All the directions are quite clear — when you have cancer the last thing you want is to be wandering around for ages because you can’t find the right place.

“At all the hospitals where I’ve been treated staff have been very friendly and helpful, and there have hardly been any hold-ups.”

Carol Clarke, clerical supervisor for medical and clinical oncology and haematology, said hundreds of outpatients would visit the hospital this week for radiotherapy, chemotherapy and other treatments.

She said: “Having all the outpatients’ clinics in one building is great — it’s easier to organise for staff and it’s much easier for patients.

“By the end of the month, we’ll be fully operational.”

Eliz Flanagan, senior chemotherapy specialist nurse, said some patients would choose to take part in clinical trials for the Cancer Research UK charity as part of their treatment.

affrench@oxfordmail.co.uk