Patients from England, Italy, Hungry, Turkey and India got together on Monday to celebrate New Year at Sibia Medical Centre in the city. The guests from different countries said it was a nice experience staying in the country and that there was no fear of any kind even after the Mumbai attacks.

The patients are presently in the city for treatment, and to make them feel at home a party was organised by the staff of the hospital. The gesture was highly appreciated by the patients. Dr Laura Andretta, a radiologist from Italy, has come to the city for treatment of Giovanni, while her husband, who is a musician and has a kidney cancer with widespread metastasis.

Dr Inovay, a gynecologist from Hungary is accompanied by his friend Jeszenszky Istvan for treatment of Melanoma and Erdil Huseiyn has come from Turkey for treatment of knee arthritis. Dr Sharma, a retired professor from the Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, and Sumitar Singh form Birmingham (UK) are undergoing treatment for heart ailments.

The cancer patients informed that in their countries they already had had surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy and were here for Cytotron treatment. Cytotron holds promise for cancer patients and has shown encouraging results in clinical trials where treatment was done on patients declared terminal after all available treatments proved ineffective. Erdil Huseiyn, a businessman, had had knee surgery in Turkey and is here for treatment with Cytotron without surgery.

Dr Sharma and Sumitar Singh, having been advised heart by-pass surgery, are here for External Counter Pulsation and Artery Clearance Therapy. 2,000 patients have been treated at the centre to create natural by-pass and enhance blood flow without anaesthesia, surgery, wires or stents.

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