PETITIONS are still pouring into The Evening Star today as hundreds of patients make their voices heard in an effort to save cancer care.More than 650 people have backed the Cancer Care - Keep it Here campaign after plans to scrap life-saving head and neck cancer surgery from Ipswich Hospital and switch it to Norwich emerged.

PETITIONS are still pouring into The Evening Star today as hundreds of patients make their voices heard in an effort to save cancer care.

More than 650 people have backed the Cancer Care - Keep it Here campaign after plans to scrap life-saving head and neck cancer surgery from Ipswich Hospital and switch it to Norwich emerged.

The move, which would see patients faced with a 100-mile round trip for treatment, and could have a huge impact on Ipswich Hospital's ability to provide other vital services, including facial trauma operations, has been recommended by the Anglia Cancer Network (ACN) to comply with national guidelines.

David Dyer, chairman of the Ipswich Hospital Cancer Services Users Group, said he and his colleagues were overwhelmed by the support for the Star's campaign as the group fights to save the service.

He said: “We've formed a battle group now and we are simply doing all we can to turnaround the situation so that head and neck stays at Ipswich Hospital.

“The Evening star campaign has given us a massive boost. We thought we were battling a brick wall, but now we need feel we have a chance to change the ACN's mind.

“It is wonderful to see so many people getting involved.

“We are all patients and carers not professionals but we care about the services.”

To get involved in Suffolk PCT's consultation on the future of head and neck cancer surgery at Ipswich Hospital visit www.suffolkpct.nhs.uk.