The centre should be open by 2009

Directors at Christie Hospital gave the go-ahead for the unit in Oldham at a board meeting.

It will boast two radiotherapy machines and up to 70 patients will be treated each day.

At the moment, cancer patients in the area have to travel to the main hospital site in Withington, Manchester, for treatment.

The centre, at the Royal Oldham Hospital, should open within two years and it will be paid for by Christie Hospital and charity donations.

The site will be able to provide radiotherapy for most prostate and breast cancer patients, but those who are very sick or suffering from gynaecological cancer or head and neck cancer will still need to travel to the Withington site.

Health bosses are seeking funding to open another centre in Salford.