Reference the article: Long Haul Distress for Cancer Patients (News, March 20).

I most certainly can empathise with Dave Mountford of Bridport who has recently been operated on for prostate cancer and wish him a speedy and complete recovery.

He was truly fortunate to be operated on using the very advanced and minimally-invasive treatment using the Da Vinci robot.

The normal method is most certainly invasive and not nearly as accurate in as much as the robot can deal in fractions of millimetres.

The problem for prostate cancer patients (nearly one in 10 men will get it) is that the Da Vinci robot is so very new and it takes time for surgeons to be trained to a level that they are able to use it successfully.

This is probably what is happening in Bournemouth. I was told that I had very aggressive and acute prostate cancer late last summer, I was operated on for a radical prostatectomy, using the Da Vinci robot, in London, spending only one night in hospital.

The operation was a complete success.

The cost of this operation is about £30,000, whether you pay or get it free on the NHS.

I can assure you that to get this kind of treatment I would have travelled to Timbuktu, Mars or anywhere.

It saved my life, literally.

To complain that one has to go all the way to Slough to have one’s life saved is quite frankly ridiculous.

To say it is a scandal to travel 300 miles, a round trip, by paid-for transport for a lifesaving operation is outrageous.

Words like ‘inconvenient’ being used to describe having your life saved is appalling.

Yes, I was diagnosed at Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester and what a wonderful and excellent team they were.

I would have walked to London for this lifesaving operation.

I feel like climbing on to the roof and shouting, so everyone can hear, how grateful we all are to have a wonderful National Health Service with such clever, caring and professional nurses and doctors.

Stop complaining about having your life saved and be grateful. It’s good to be alive.

Please do not misunderstand the sentiments in this letter which have been given in general terms and are certainly not directed at Dave Mountford, who I wish once again a complete recovery.

Simon Bird Lyme Regis