Community Perspectives: Ringing the Chemo Bell – yay or nay?

YES, I RANG THE BELL

Sarah says:

I rang the sh*t out of it! I earned it!

Julie says:

I rang it the first time but since becoming metastatic, I feel like the symbolism of “being done” and “surviving treatment” is lost.

Emily says:

I got to ring the bell after Herceptin and I was surprised how happy it made me. I’m glad I didn’t ring it after chemo because I always considered each chemo “done” a week after treatment.

Jennifer says:

I rang it after the first time I did chemo but haven’t rang it the last four times. I feel like the first time jinxed me.

Heather says:

My cancer centre didn’t have a bell but my MIL felt the symbolism was important, so she brought a bell to ring privately after my last chemo.

Ashley says:

I loved hearing people ring the bell while I was getting treatment. It filled me with happiness for those people and hope for myself. I was hesitant to ring my own bell because I don’t like drawing attention to myself, but once I grabbed hold of that rope, I rang it loudly and proudly.

Kim says:

I loved it. It was a beautiful way to mark the end of a really hard part of this fight. We also walked out with pink balloons and let them go into the sky.

Shanna says:

I rang it when I was done chemo, and will ring it again at the end of Herceptin. It is the sound of charms to turn the page. I don’t see it as our journey or fight being over – just the end of a sh*tty chapter in our new lives. I love hearing people ring that bell! It’s such a powerful sound.

Jessica says:

I was unsure about ringing it, but my nurse encouraged me to do it. As I rang it, everyone in the units stood to their feet and applauded. I was overcome with emotions and my husband had tears in his eyes. My favourite nurse came over to me and gave me a great big hug. It was one of my most memorable moments in life. I’m glad I rang it.

Vesna says:

I rang it when I finished treatment for Stage 2, but having now progressed to Stage 4, I shudder at my photo holding the bell toggle. It feels like a broken promise or a symbol of my naivety at that time in my life.

NO, I DIDN’T RING THE BELL

Maja says:

I received my chemo treatments at Sunnybrook Hospital and they don’t have a bell. There are people who will be receiving treatments forever that are Stage 4 and will never be able to ring it. What I did instead was bring a poster my nieces drew for me and take a picture with it on my last day of chemo. That was more meaningful for me.

Sonya says:

At my cancer centre they decorate chairs with streamers and you break them to sit down for your last chemo. Same symbology, much quieter.

Cassandra says:

Instead of ringing the bell I took a picture. During my first treatment someone rang the bell and the lady across from me (guest of a patient) was visibly upset and left the room crying. The patient she was with was not doing well. I decided at that point I didn’t need the bell if it caused pain to others.

Carys says:

My cancer centre didn’t have a bell. I was relieved because I had anxiety building up about that experience. That said, it was a bit anticlimactic to finish and just leave.

Suzanne says:

As someone who will never get to ring the bell, I am glad that my hospital and others have remembered and considered those of us with MBC.

Mallory says:

I chose not to ring the bell because treatment never felt final, with Herceptin and Tamoxifen. BUT having said that, I LOVED hearing people ring that bell. It’s such a powerful symbol. I appreciate when people come together as a community and I think the bell did that for everyone who heard it. It’s not a fight you’re fighting on your own, and that is important to remember. Collective emotions are powerful.

Shelley says:

I didn’t ring the chemo bell because I know far too many women who will never get to.