IPSWICH hospital could lose more cancer surgery specialisms, it emerged today.

IPSWICH hospital could lose more cancer surgery specialisms, it emerged today.

Head and neck cancer surgery is already under threat with plans to scrap the life-saving treatment and move it to Norwich.

The Evening Star's campaign to stop the potentially devastating move is continuing fast, with more than 1,150 people signing the petition so far, and more coming in every day.

And today cancer patients at the hospital were hit with another bombshell as it emerged that surgery for pancreatic cancer may also be moved to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, leaving even more patients facing long journeys for treatment.

David Dyer, chairman of the Ipswich Hospital Cancer Services User Group, said the group expected the service to come under review once the consultation into the head and neck proposals ended in June.

He added that the group may support the plans if the surgeons backed them to provide better patient care, which was the case when urology cancer surgery moved to Addenbrooke's.

Mr Dyer, who is supporting the Star's battle to keep head and neck cancer surgery in Ipswich, said: “Once the head and neck is sorted and the decision taken this will be next in line.

“There may be reasons in this case why the service should move. Head and neck was a special case and we look at each service individually as they are all different.

“We didn't mind urology going to Cambridge because that was what the hospital wanted and it can often be treated as day cases.

“When it is on the table we will look at the proposal and see if the hospital has concerns.”

Have you faced a long journey for cancer surgery? How did it affect you? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.