Forum Discussion
Last day ideas
hello ladies (and gents),
as you may know from my previous posts I am a radiation therapist (and currently sitting in the chair for my last Taxol!).
I have read some of your posts on your last day of treatment where you have gotten to ring a bell or received a certificate etc, my department does not do anything like that, we give hugs and best wishes of course but I am realising that maybe something more is needed. I am trying to use my personal experience to improve my own practice and perhaps my departments too.
so I am asking those who have had their last day of radiation for ideas on how you would have liked to mark the occasion with the staff?
thanks x
as you may know from my previous posts I am a radiation therapist (and currently sitting in the chair for my last Taxol!).
I have read some of your posts on your last day of treatment where you have gotten to ring a bell or received a certificate etc, my department does not do anything like that, we give hugs and best wishes of course but I am realising that maybe something more is needed. I am trying to use my personal experience to improve my own practice and perhaps my departments too.
so I am asking those who have had their last day of radiation for ideas on how you would have liked to mark the occasion with the staff?
thanks x
27 Replies
- @Primek It's such a mixed bag, how we all react differently. I find it fascinating.
- Yes @kmakm ..it was like dragging yourself over the finish line and ringing it....a checkered flag or a tape would do the trick too...completing the marathon of that particular treatment. I would have done it after AC ...as it was bloody awful. But for me taxol was just as bad.
- I didn't associate the bell with successful outcomes, it was all about finishing the wretched chemo!
- I baked a cake for the staff and other chemo patients to share. It had butterflies on top to celebrate new life. I have bought a bell to donate to the ward which will be refurbished later this year as I really wanted to ring the damn bell.
- Congrats on finishing your chemo & all the best for the rest of your BC journey @JoeyLiz - I really like the idea of the tree too! It would help bring a bit of closure.
When I finished my rads, there was pretty well nothing done to celebrate the end! I'd become quite emotional during that last treatment & the rad nurses gave me a hug before I left the treatment area. The radiation staff had really become my 'inner circle' for the month - and had been just fantastic throughout the whole period & it was really quite sad to be leaving.
Then zippo! Nothing - I just walked out of the clinic! I'd brought up the idea of a bell or similar with Tom (the clerk doing the bookings/paperwork) but it was considered to be bad taste, as not all treatment has successful outcomes, as Irb_03 mentioned. Shame - as I think there should be 'something' .... - Love the tree idea. So life affirming, no what stage or type your cancer.
I didn't get to ring a bell when I finished chemo. I've heard about them. I've also heard about the flip side of how sad it can make someone undergoing treatment for metastatic cancer, knowing they will never finish, therefore never get to ring a bell. That gives me reservations about ringing a bell
By the way, congratulations @JoeyLiz, on completing chemo. Hope that when youget to surgery you find you've had a great result <3 - Congratulations on finishing your treatment joeyliz. It must be a great feeling. Hope your surgery goes well and that you recover from that without too much discomfort. Sending you a hug from the Eastern Shore...
- I think the tree idea is gorgeous <3
- I thought tree sounded nice, too.
- @kezmusc I love the tree idea!
