BREAST cancer patients in Ipswich are to get faster and more accurate treatment, it has been revealed.The latest technology is being pioneered at the Trust and Ipswich is the only centre across the UK to deliver the treatment to all patients with breast cancer.

By Jessica Nicholls

BREAST cancer patients in Ipswich are to get faster and more accurate treatment, it has been revealed.

The latest technology is being pioneered at the Trust and Ipswich is the only centre across the UK to deliver the treatment to all patients with breast cancer.

Although it is available in other Trusts, the new treatment is not used on a regular basis like it will be at Ipswich.

And it is thanks to the Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS) that the new treatment has been bought.

New special carbon boards mean that patients are able to have a CT scan that can give doctors more information about the extent of the cancer.

The boards are essential for radiographers to carry out the CT scan.

Val Hardy is radiotherapy manager. She said: "Using the CT scanner means that we are able to build up a three dimensional picture so that treatment can be more accurately delivered to the area of interest.

"We use this treatment planning every day for all our patients.

"We are fortunate to have a state-of-the-art treatment planning equipment and the latest technology for treatment delivery.

"This means that the treatment can be tailored for each individual patient."

Using CT scans is a speedy process and takes only 10 – 15 minutes to carry our whereas previously the simulators used took around 40 minutes.

The WRVS often raise money for cancer services and have donated around £25,000 to the hospital in the past few years.

Weblink: www.breakthrough.org.uk