On yesterday's show there was a debate on whether bells should be banned/moved, one women who has secondary cancer called them "cruel and divisive" - would be interested to hear what other cancer patients think.
Hi all, I've thought about it good and hard, as i am now i wouldn't ring the bell, I'm on palliative care so treatment just keeps me going. BUT if ever i was cured I'd probably ring so hard I'd break it. Good luck to all...
My dad is never going to ring that bell (sadly) but i know if i heard that bell ringing i would be so happy for that person because they BEAT cancer and are getting to carry on enjoying life with their family. 2 years ago I saw a freind ring that bell and her eyes lit up it was fantastic ,the next time the bell was left as she didnt get to ring it :-( .
Yes - I realise now that in many (most?) cases, cancer isn't "beaten". It can be stopped in its tracks - my breast cancer was blasted with poisons, excised with the knife and then blitzed with pinpoint radiation. There was no bell to ring where I was treated and preventive treatment continues, and will continue. I think the time has passed for "ringing the bell". It doesn't mean that we shouldn't be rejoicing about every successful treatment but, as pinknotts points out, that is not necessarily the end of the story. The Bell had its time (perhaps) but it relates to a period when cancer was not understood to the level it is now. I would suggest the offering of a button, suggesting "done it so far"...
