THE biggest ever appeal by a county NHS cancer centre has been launched in Preston.

It is hoped the £650,000 will bring "one of the biggest breakthroughs in radiotherapy in recent years" to the Rosemere Cancer Centre at Royal Preston Hospital.

The centre is the only place where patients from Lancashire can receive radiotherapy, which kills cancer cells.

The cash is to provide a image guided radiation therapy service.

This will allow staff to attack the body more precisely with radiation, sparing healthy tissues.

Margaret Abraham, radiotherapy services manager for Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust, said the scanner would bring major benefits.

She said: "In the case of Anne we would be able to see things like her breathing cycle, her lungs and heart and that would allow us to focus our treatment a lot better.

"One of the biggest benefits is that it can reduce the side effects some people experience with radiotherapy.

"For example if we treat a tumour in the abdomen this can make the patient sick and suffer diarrhoea.

"This can be a long-term effect but for most people will last two or three months."

She said the NHS was "not moving fast enough" to buy the equipment and "we want to be there sooner rather than later".

It is the biggest appeal ever for the hospital.

It is being supported by the Rosemere Cancer Foundation, a group which raises funds for services.

Sue Thompson, the foundation's chief officer, said: "This equipment is one of the biggest breakthroughs in radiotherapy in recent years.

"The Ray of Hope appeal aims to bring tomorrow's technology to Lancashire today.

"If we are successful if will mean many thousands of people receive more accurate radiotherapy, giving them greater hope that they will beat the disease."