TEENAGERS and young adults needing treatment for cancer will no longer have to travel more than 50 miles to hospital, it can be revealed.

Those diagnosed with the disease and aged between 19 and 25 will now be able to have chemotherapy and radiotherapy at Ipswich Hospital rather than travel more than an hour to Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

The Heath Road trust has been recognised as a Teenage and Young Adult designated centre, along with the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital and Peterborough Hospital. Although affecting only a small number of people, it is “good news” for those patients.

Teenage and young adult cancer nurse specialist Chris Garlick, told The Star: “Historically the problem has been teenagers falling between paediatrics and adults services.

“It has been recognised that if you can manage them as a specific group hopefully we will see better outcomes.”

He said Addenbrooke’s Hospital is the primary treatment centre for East Anglia, but under the new guidelines Ipswich Hospital will be a designated teenage and young adult hospitals.

“Various hospitals in the east bid to become teenage and young adult designated centres,” added Mr Garlick. “We were successful. We had our confirmation through last month. It is good news for the hospital and for patients.

“For teenagers it is particularly important, they are often working or at university, it is an important time developmentally so treatment closer to home can be really important to their lifestyle.”

n Are you affected? Write to health reporter Lizzie Parry at Ipswich Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN.