A NEW specialist treatment room for breast cancer patients has been officially opened at one of the region's hospitals.Thousands of women will be able to benefit from the Physiotherapy Lymphoedema Room, which was formerly unveiled at Ipswich Hospital yesterday.

A NEW specialist treatment room for breast cancer patients has been officially opened at one of the region's hospitals.

Thousands of women will be able to benefit from the Physiotherapy Lymphoedema Room, which was formerly unveiled at Ipswich Hospital yesterday.

The £40,000 treatment room has been funded by cancer support group The Somersham Support Group and donations from patients and their families to the Breast Clinic Fund.

Caroline Mortimer, consultant breast surgeon at the hospital, said: "Lymphoedema is the name given to the swelling, or increased fluid in arms and legs, that happens because the lymph drainage has been compromised by surgery or treatment. It is a really distressing consequence of treatment.

"Our new treatment centre, led by skilled physiotherapists, will help women with lymphoedma, caused not only by surgery for breast cancer, and gynaeoncolgy, but also through vascular problems. We believe that this new centre will give women, much greater confidence, self-esteem and independence.

"A very important part of the new centre is the fact that it is open access, women or their family doctors can refer themselves whenever they want or need to come. This is so important because lymphoedema can occur any time after surgery, and we wanted to make sure women would have no fear about coming back for specialist support."

The new treatment room will also be used for training in breast care physiotherapy.