Enniskillen will be the location of the first of five regional support centres for charity Cancer Focus NI.
The cancer charity will open a retail unit in the town next month, while it says it has secured premises in the Co Fermanagh town for the support centre which is expected to open early next year.
The retail unit will be located on the Shore Road, while the support centre will be on High Street in the town.
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The news comes as Cancer Focus NI launches a new five-year strategy which will see it open five new regional support centres in Northern Ireland by 2027.
The charity says the new centres are designed to provide cancer patients with a space outside of hospital to receive support outside of a hospital environment.
Co Fermanagh woman Denise Kettyles was diagnosed with endometrial cancer in 2021, and says the new centres will be a boost for those in the area and reduce travelling to appointments for cancer patients.
“In January 2021, I received a phone call to visit a gynaecologist and there I was diagnosed with stage one endometrial cancer,” Denise said.
At the time I was overwhelmed and concerned, particularly that a hysterectomy was mentioned as a treatment option.
“Living in rural Fermanagh, travelling miles for appointments, and not having a professional cancer support network around me did make things more difficult. But through Cancer Focus Northern Ireland I received counselling from Heather who helped me develop the skills needed to process and understand my thoughts and feelings.
“This is why it is fantastic that services provided by Cancer Focus Northern Ireland through its new five-year strategy will be offered at new regional support centres throughout Northern Ireland.
"Months after my surgery, I had some things going on in my body, but had nowhere to go to talk to a professional. This new facility would have made such a difference to my recovery and I’m confident that it will support patients and their families for years to come.”
Speaking at the launch of the new strategy on Wednesday, Cancer Focus chief executive Richard Spratt said: “Our newly published five-year strategy is an exciting and ambitious plan that will see Cancer Focus Northern Ireland imbed itself into local communities to meet the needs of local cancer patients in the towns and cities across the region.
“As Northern Ireland’s first cancer charity, we believe that this future direction of cancer response is crucial to seeing more local people live their lives to the fullest.
“This is a progressive and positive shake-up in how we deliver cancer therapeutic support and ensures we remain responsive to the needs of those living with cancer in Northern Ireland.”
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