Local Cancer Groups give huge boost to Targeted Radiotherapy Appeal

The Targeted Radiotherapy Appeal is now quarter of the way to its total thanks to a £50,000 pledge from Big C, and £10,000 pledges each from the Norfolk and Waveney Prostate Cancer Support Group and the Cancer Community Chest of Brundall.

The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital’s Targeted Radiotherapy Appeal needs to raise £600,000 and the appeal has reached £165,000 with the latest pledges and contributions. The money will be used to build dedicated facilities to deliver a brachytherapy service to treat prostate and other cancers, reducing treatment times and meaning some patients can be treated closer to home.

Staff at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital took part in a photograph to celebrate the Appeal’s progress. The picture marks out the number “112” because there are at least 112 men diagnosed with prostate cancer every day in the UK.

Dr Tom Roques, NNUH Consultant Oncologist, said: “We’re so grateful for these generous pledges. The new brachytherapy service will make a real difference for patients with some types of cancer. It will allow us to focus radiotherapy more accurately, particularly for some prostate cancer patients. This will hopefully lead to higher cure rates, less damage to surrounding organs and fewer repeat visits to hospital for treatment.”

Daniel Williams, Chief Executive of Big C, said: “We are determined that people in Norfolk should have local access to the best treatment and care locally. We have ring-fenced a substantial contribution to this appeal and we hope it will take the hospital a step closer to providing this new service.”

Noel Warner, Chairman of the Norfolk and Waveney Prostate Cancer Support Group, said: “We fully support the appeal and the extra treatment choices it will provide for men living in our area. It means that men needing this treatment will no longer have to travel to London and Cambridge. There are nearly 1,000 local men diagnosed each year with prostate cancer and a number will benefit from this service.”

To find out more about the Targeted Radiotherapy Appeal or donate online visit http://www.justgiving.com/NNUH-TargetedRadiotherapyAppeal