The former Clunes resident and her husband, Chris, had only just moved to Warrnambool in 2004 when she was informed that she had to undergo radiotherapy in Geelong.

Mrs Symmonds said she was surprised at the lack of cancer services in Warrnambool, despite two full-time oncologists living and working in the city.

She said she sympathised with other former and current cancer patients who are backing the Peter’s Project campaign which aims to secure an integrated cancer care centre for the south-west.

The Standard officially endorsed Peter’s Project last month when the newspaper called on Health Minister Nicola Roxon to visit Warrnambool and meet with members of the campaign.

“Radiotherapy sessions only take about 15 minutes all together,” Mrs Symmonds said.

“The problem is you’re stuck more than 200 kilometres from home in Geelong for six weeks while you get it done.

“It isn’t practical to go back and forward from Geelong to Warrnambool each day because you’d waste a lot of time and money, plus the sessions can be physically exhausting.”

Mr Symmonds said his mother-in-law Fides, who was then 78, struggled to live independently while her daughter and son-in-law were away from the house for more than a month.

“She’s originally from Italy and her English isn’t the best, so it was quite a struggle for her to be on her own,” he said.

“It would be worse for a father or mother of young children because they would have to find someone to care for them while they’re in Geelong or Melbourne.

“I hope the ministers in Melbourne and Canberra are listening to the stories of people who live here and discovering how much your life is interrupted by receiving treatment so far away from home.”