Ring the Bell?

When I was in the RT treatment area, people rang the bell when either they'd finished their course of RT, chemo or after they'd received the all clear. Some people rang it after the end of each different treatment stage. 

It was always lovely to see people walking out with a big smile on their faces & ring the bell & always bought tears to my eyes. I found it really uplifting & motivating to hear it. I think the addition of the bell in cancer departments is a lovely idea. 

The very best wishes to you.  I hope your chance to ring the bell will come around soon. 

They don't ring the bell.at Peterborough anymore 

Hello All

I wasn't going to ring it after my 20 fractions of radiotherapy but ended up talking to another man in the waiting room one day as someone rang the bell and we all clapped. He asked me if I was going to ring the bell and I said no - some people never will!

He told me he had pancreatic cancer and he never would - so at the end of my treatment would I please ring the bell for both of us.

I did and ended up in tears in reception - a grown man of 67 crying - but it was worth it.

Best wishes - Brian.

I fully intended to ring the bell after the last of my 20 fractions, but was so desperate  for a pee I rushed straight past it heading for the nearest gents loo.  Somehow, after the aaaah feeling of huge relief the moment seemed to have passed. 

My celebration on the way home was a MacDonalds (naughty but nice).

The most important thing about ringing the bell at the end of your RT is that it marks the start of the next phase of your life. As Brian said it can be a very emotional moment. Unfortunately my wife wasn't able to be there when I was having my RT as we lived on a Scottish island at the time and my treatment was in Glasgow. Here's a photo of me ringing the bell and looking very sad! That was in March 2019 and I'm now six years post-RT with a PSA of 0.3 at the last test, so still in remission.

LOL! I know that feeling! I didn't get to ring the bell either. After  final RT I was in such a bad state I had to be rolled out of the cancer unit in a wheelchair.  As soon as I got into the car I burst into tears of relief. 

I'm still having immunotherapy but at my local hospital instead. It doesn't have a cancer unit, so no bell to ring.

Still having check up's at the cancer unit . I might have a sneaky ring on the bell once I've finished immunotherapy.

Shame your wife couldn't be there, but glad you got a photo so you could share the special moment. 

I finished my radiotherapy treatment in early January this year at Weston Park Hospital, Sheffield. I had to think quite a long time whether I should ring the bell as it was situated in the main waiting area where other patients were sitting. In the end I decided against it not knowing at what stage the other patients were at. My friends and family knew I'd finished my treatment and I thanked them all for their support.

Brian , you so and so... that story of ringing for you both put a tear in my eyes now .

Mark.

Hello Mark (Hammer.) 

Sadly, that's the shortened version - it was early January and we were talking about family and Christmas  -  I was already in tears in the waiting room.

As a Community Champion I now work on other groups as well as ours - and to be honest I love our group - yes we have lost some Community Members this year but when you read posts on other groups - i think how fortunate we are.

Thanks for your continued support Mark - it's appreciated.

Best wishes - Brian.