CANCER patient Hilary James receives her weekly chemotherapy in unique surroundings - the comfort of her own home.

She is among an increasing number of Gwent patients being spared the stress of weekly trips to hospital for the treatment by a pioneering, National Lottery-funded service.

The chemotherapy outreach project, based at Velindre Hospital, Cardiff, saves patients accumulated journeys of hundreds of miles, and the inconvenience that goes with them.

"It's been fantastic and I just want more people to know about it," said 60-year-old Mrs James, who is in 21 weeks into a 24-week chemotherapy treatment performed at her home in Hill Street, Pontnewynydd, near Pontypool.

Every week, Mrs Jones is attended by two members of the outreach project team, usually chemotherapy outreach clinical assistant Natalie Pitman, and outreach manager Cathy Barker. The procedure takes about 15 minutes.

"Your own home is a more relaxing environment for this," said Mrs James, who began her chemotherapy course in January.

She had been diagnosed with bowel cancer last October and had surgery in November.

"I go to Velindre for a monthly check-up, but without this service I would also have to go to the Royal Gwent every week for chemotherapy, and everyone knows what parking is like down there, or Velindre, which is a 40-mile round trip.

"I've coped with it really well and a big part is that you are not stressed out thinking about it. People cannot believe it when I say I have my chemo at home." The service is a first for Wales, the result of a three-year New Opportunities Fund (an arm of the Lottery) grant of £195,000. The aim is to bring an extra 1,000 procedures a year closer to patients' homes.

Home chemotherapy covers the Cwmbran and Pontypool areas and is being extended into Monmouthshire, and though it is not suitable for all patients, the numbers being taken on are increasing.

"We can see up to eight patients a day and there should be 25 in these areas by next year," said Cathy Barker.

"There is still a lot of fear around cancer and by extension chemotherapy, and hopefully this scheme is helping to demystify it."