Ever felt like giving the Big Bell a ring every time you walk past it? Itās like seeing a big red flashing button š“ that feels like it has an invisible sign on saying āPRESS MEā and you know you shouldnāt š but the childish urge is so strong. Well thatās me every time I walk past it. I just want to be a rebel and ring it every time I pass it!! š āLast orders pleaseā
I know The Bell has mixed feelings for many patients, I was one of them so I appreciate and respect why. Itās a very personal and individual thing. I know that the purpose of the bell is to help patients at the start, and or during, and or at the end of their treatment. Itās there for patients to ring whenever they like. If youāre nervous of starting a treatment, if you want to mark a milestone, celebrate good results, but probably not just for walking past as it drawers a lot of attention,…. but itās up to the patient how they use it, and of course they donāt have to.
There are a couple of reasons I was feeling a little uncomfortable about the bell. The first time I was introduced to it I was told āthis is our bell that patients ring when theyāve finished treatmentā. Of course I could have questioned that at the time but when everything is new and youāre trying to take everything in, it didnāt occur. I have secondary breast cancer (which means cancer has spread to another part/s of the body), so Iāll be on treatment indefinitely. Currently forever. If it were 2050 then there might be a cure but thatās 30 yrs away. Blimey, that would make me 86! Another niggle is the original poem which is next to the bell that patients are encouraged to read before ringing. I couldnāt relate to it for my personal health situation, maybe because Iād only ever seen the poem read and the bell rang by patients who had finished treatment?

This does not mean that I donāt celebrate or congratulate other patients when they ring the bell because I do. Iām genuinely happy that theyāve reached a milestone. All milestones are important in life no matter what they are. Any excuse to celebrate, clap, cheer and hug thatās me, (no hugging during current COVID-19 times though), but to ring the bell to mark the end of treatment…………………. Well Iām glad to say that thereās been a shift in mindset, including my own, and a shift in meaning.

The bell now has an additional poem. Itās lovely. I think that every one can relate to patient Jane Bradyās words, and if there are more patients like me that were slightly uncomfortable at times with the purpose of the bell, then ring the hell out of it and make friends with it. I did! š I nearly rang the thing off the wall to celebrate my 100th chemo. It was liberating getting rid of the bell anxiety Iād built up!

Itās NOT the end of treatment bell, itās a whatever you want it to be bell and itās for everyone.
