A WIDOW who lost her husband to cancer says 2010 is the time for a piece of pioneering treatment after it was discussed in parliament.

Soon after Ron Peberdy died of pancreatic cancer in 2005 his wife Ruth, of Stawell, set up a trust to raise money for the revolutionary Cyberknife technology.

Cyberknife is a form of non-invasive, painless radiotherapy which can track and treat tumours anywhere in the body.

The technology is about eight years old and there are roughly 180 systems in use across the world, including 20 in Europe and two in England.

But determined Ruth, who believes her late husband could have benefited from the treatment, wants to see Cyberknife available at Bridgwater Hospital.

She has raised £38,000 to date but says this is only the tip of the iceberg and is calling on a big effort this year from health experts and campaigners to make her dream a reality.

An All Party Parliamentary Group meeting took place at the House of Commons last month (December) where the access of radiosurgery and Cyberknife to NHS patients was discussed.

Ruth said this week: “I have been shouting about this for nearly five years now and was pleased to be asked to join a Cyberknife Coalition, which resulted in the meeting.

“Some Primary Care Trusts are referring and others are flatly refusing Cyberknife, which I find unacceptable.

“To have a Cyberknife in Bridgwater makes good sense especially when there are no specific plans laid down yet for the intended hospital.

“This is possible - it can be done.”

The Somerset Primary Care Trust says cancer treatments have improved in recent years and patients can be referred to hospitals offering Cyberknife treatment.