IT'S not too late to add your name to our petition to keep urology cancer surgery in Colchester.

Thousands of you have signed the petition for our Save Our Cancer Surgery campaign.

The Gazette launched the campaign because NHS England wants to create one specialist centre in Essex
to provide the surgery and it is expected to be in either Southend or Colchester.

Click HERE to learn more about the campaign and HERE to sign the petition.

As well as signing the petition, we have been asking people to tell us why they believe the services should remain in Colchester.

MICHAEL LANG, chairman, North East Essex Urology Cancer Support Group, said: “I have been suffering with prostate cancer for five years now and if it wasn't for the excellent treatment I’ve had from Mr Corr and his team of dedicated staff I would probably have not recovered from cancer.

“The new radiotherapy unit is one of the most modern units in the country and with the new chemotherapy unit coming to Colchester General Hospital it surely makes sense to keep the urology cancer treatment at the same hospital.

“Our support unit has more than 200 members, most of them owe their recovery to Mr Corr and his department. In my opinion, they are the jewel in the Colchester General Hospitals’ crown.

Let’s support them and keep the urology cancer support centre in Colchester.”

MICHAEL ARCHER OBE, of Dedham said: “I write to support the appeal to keep the cancer surgery unit in Colchester.

“I have had personal experience of Mr Corr’s consummate abilities as a surgeon and of the superb support of his theatre staff. He is totally dedicated and has vast experience in his specialisation as well as an impressive work rate.

“His unit must be one of the best in the country and should on no account be threatened.

“Oncology services are first rate with the recent establishment of a new radiotherapy centre.

“The population of Colchester and north east Essex generally is expanding hugely and should be more than enough to justify the continuation of the cancer surgery unit in Colchester.”

ANDREW NIGHTINGALE, of the Avenue, Wivenhoe, said: “Colchester is a rapidly growing borough, one of the fastest in the country.

“This in itself will increase the demands on all medical services locally.

“The journey to Southend is arduous with no direct public transport link.

“People undergoing tiring treatment will suffer even more from this geographical dislocation.

“This excellent service and facility should remain in its current location in Colchester.”