Hi. Oh my goodness. I know exactly how you feel. I was dreading it, all the people staring and cheering. Luckily you don’t have to do it. But then I think, we beat cancer, why shouldn’t we have everyone cheering. You may feel like ringing it once you’ve done. Just as a relief but don’t worry, it’s not compulsory xx

Hello :) 

no you don`t have to do this - I had a chemo not radio but I guess same rules for the bell apply ;) 

I did ring the bell - for me that was marking completion of something unexpected but also when I have got to chemo unit for the first time I have seen one lady ringing the bell and said to myself that I can`t wait to do this at the end of the treatment - that was something I have been waiting for - not for all nurses waiting for me to do this but only for myself - my husband even recorded it :) 

Good luck and remember - do the thing which will make you feel comfy :)

Mal

Thanks all

i will mention it today with the rads team, I am just a private person and try and keep my emotions in check, I would hate to start crying in front of people plus I am doing this alone, I have no one to record it, no one to cheer or hug. I would look pretty sad standing there on my own and couldn’t bear to see the pity in others faces. 

I only had 10 sessions of RT with no issues at all, so felt a little silly ringing the bell. I did it mostly for the others though, some of whom have a harrowing time, to remind them that the end of it does come.

I have to say that the RT dept at my hospital doesn't feel like a hospital at all; lots of space, calm, clean and very welcoming..

Well i hope you keep coming on here with updates to how your doing or just chat rant anything you want to do you name it you dont have to do this alone as there are many on here going ghrough it or been through it who understand and will give you as much support as they can  your not alone now just by yourself best wishs paul 

I wasn’t going to ring the bell not My styles  at all .. but like many others have said it complete s the circle .i had 35 sessions of r/t and inrung the hell out of the bell in the end for my sake as much as the other patients some who were just starting . Ok look at my blog I can see in my last day I had 3 rd degree burn s in my neck what u can’t see is a radiation burn on my tongue full,length but I rung it and felt it closed that chapter .

my blog is www.radioactiveraz,wordpress.com

niw 15 weeks post radiotherapy cancer ifvright tonsil amd lymph nodes m final scan done awaiting results 

good luck

Hazel

Thanks for the replies and I understand why people do it but it’s not for me. I’ve not had a chance to discuss it with the team yet.

If you don't feel like doing it, simply don't and just leave when your RT is finished. I don't really think it's a big thing unless one chooses to make it so and that'll be different for everybody. Not right or wrong, just different.

It's not even as if anybody else will know you're finishing, except the staff and they're their for you.

My Best

Taff

It’s all over - last rads today and I did not ring the bell. Now back to normality ;)