PATIENTS at Colchester General Hospital are taking part in trials to find treatments for an incurable cancer.

More patients from Colchester than any other hospital are involved in a blood cancer study into a type of nonHodgkin lymphoma.

About British 350 patients a year are diagnosed with lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. It is an incurable, but asanonaggressive type of cancer it means patients can live with it for many years.

Some need no treatment, but drugs can be used to drive the cancer into remission.

The clinical trial involves comparing a standard drug treatment with a new combination of drugs over several months.

Consultant Dr Gavin Campbell, who is based at Colchester General Hospital, said they hope to find out which treatment is most effective and compare any side-effects.

Six patients from Colchester are taking part in the study, led by Barts Hospital in London.