A CANCER haven at York Hospital is celebrating its fifth birthday - with news that a new chemotherapy suite will open next year.

York Hospital's Cancer Care Centre first opened its doors in February 1998, after a fundraising appeal by the Evening Press and York Against Cancer raised £110,000 towards building the £138,000 facility.

The new chemotherapy suite, set to open in spring 2005, is part of a scheme by York Hospitals NHS Trust to modernise the hospital.

In a move to integrate the hospital's oncology and haematology units, 18 patients will soon be able to receive treatment in one of two single rooms, or two larger rooms each containing enough trolley space for eight patients.

Equipment will be transferred from the existing treatment room, but cancer care coordinator Paul Mayor said more will be needed.

"It should be a much better, bigger facility," said Mr Mayor. "There's always been an issue that we're short of space for chemotherapy, with only three spaces in the outpatients department. It should be a better environment and we should be able to do much more in terms of supportive therapy."

Mr Mayor said there had been various improvements to services since the centre opened five years ago.

It now runs more oncology clinics and has drafted in specialists for particular cancers, such as bowel, breast and lung cancers.

Patients can enjoy a wider range of complementary therapy, like aromatherapy, reflexology and massage therapy.

With support from York Against Cancer, the team of oncology specialist nurses has risen from two to four, and could increase in the months leading up to the opening of the new suite.

The centre also has a palliative care clinic and specialist services for patients who have suffered hair loss as a result of chemotherapy.

Mr Mayor said: "We've had very positive feedback from a number of patients, which is always reflected in a robust charitable fund.

"Patients don't just come in to see their consultant, now they also have the opportunity to gain information and have complementary therapy or to see somebody for physiological support."

Updated: 08:18 Tuesday, March 02, 2004