A St George man who battled cancer is encouraging people to back an appeal to refurbish the city's dedicated hospital for people with the disease.

Jason Edgar was diagnosed with testicular cancer last year and remains under the care of the Bristol Haematology & Oncology Centre (BHOC).

He was one of the guests at a tea party in the city yesterday to launch the CaRE Appeal (Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy Environment Appeal) to raise £500,000 towards a makeover project at the hospital. The £2.4 million project will transform the entrance to the centre and the outpatients' unit to make it more welcoming for patients.

About 1,000 people pass through the doors of the regional specialist centre every day, and Above and Beyond Charities – which raises funds for the city centre hospitals – is encouraging people to support the efforts.

Mr Edgar, 32, had to have his left testicle removed after he was diagnosed with cancer in March.

He said: "All I could think was how to tell my parents, my seven year-old daughter, my friends and close colleagues.

"What would people think about me? Would I be viewed differently? Cancer was something that happened to other people."

Mr Edgar, who works as part of a projects team, attended the BHOC several times before undergoing chemotherapy at the hospital, and returns regularly for check-ups, but 18 months on is healthy.

He said: "I used to live at the top of St Michael's Hill and walked past the BHOC every day, and it almost looks like you have to be ill to go in there.

"Once you get through the door it is fairly busy and there is a lot going on visually that could be cleared away, which they are going to do with de-cluttering and looking at the colour of the decor.

"The importance of having some time alone to think and come to terms with the news was important, and it's great that the refurbishment at the BHOC will create rooms where patients can take a moment, or can talk to a member of the support team about their diagnosis and treatment."

Mr Edgar said that despite the appearance of the building, the care he received was first class and, inspired by his experience, he recently became a governor at University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, and an ambassador for the Above & Beyond CaRE Appeal.

He also encourages all his friends and other men to be aware of testicular cancer and to check themselves. He said: "It is very easy to do and if more people checked themselves there might be less cancer."

The CaRE Appeal will fund the redesign and refurbishment of the reception area, outpatients' department and support services, with a focus on the needs of patients and their families for space, privacy and a welcoming environment. The work will include the addition of 12 new clinic rooms, some private rooms and a new home for patient support services.

Dr Peter Wilde, head of specialist services at the hospital trust, said: "We are anxious to ensure that patients' experiences are as comfortable as possible."