A CANCER patient who became one of the first to undergo a revolutionary surgery technique has added his support to the campaign to keep urology cancer surgery in Colchester.

Pensioner Jeremiah O’Donnell became a guinea pig for the state-of-the-art technology when he had his prostate removed at Colchester General Hospital.

For the first time, urologists John Corr and Rowan Casey wore 3D glasses to carry out the surgery.

Surgeons made a small cut in the patient and threaded a camera into his body before carrying out the procedure while looking at the inside of the body on a TV screen.

The new technology meant the bodywas shown in high definition on a 3Dmonitor.

Surgeons say the 3D surgery helps to boost the accuracy of the procedure.

Mr O’Donnell, of Jameson Road, Clacton, said he supported the Gazette campaign.

He said: “I was the first person to have the 3D surgery done.

“Two-and-a-half years on I am clear of cancer, thanks to doctors John Corr and Rowan Casey and all their team. They do a wonderful job.

“I would say to David Cameron and Jeremy Hunt – the Health Secretary – hands off our urology department and leave our great team of doctors and nurses to carry on saving very ill patients who suffer with different cancers.”

Under Nice guidelines, a specialist urology cancer surgery centre will be set up for Essex.

Both Colchester and Southend hospitals are expected to bid for the centre.

Colchester surgeons, led by Mr Corr, say the Colchester health trust leads the way in urology surgery in the county and has recently invested more than £250,000 in new equipment.

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