Last day ideas
JoeyLiz
Member Posts: 339 ✭
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
Tagged:
4
Comments
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https://www.targetingcancer.com.au/2016/04/ringing-in-the-end-of-treatment/ here are some Bell posts Joey....
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I loved ringing the bell at the end of chemo. I didn't anticipate the pleasure and was surprised by how much it meant to me. I didn't know they did it at my hospital until my last chemo when someone did i about an hour before me. All the other people, patients, chemo buddies & nurses, cheered and clapped. It was, heart warming! You might like to look at Instagram, there are lots photos of chemo ending bell ringing there. It's big in the US I gather. Good on you for bringing the joy!
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I have these saved from my Breast Care nurse as we are attempting to get one at the Cottage here in town...
https://www.google.com.au/search?rlz=1C1CHBF_enAU743AU743&q=cancer+bell+poem&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiHlNO0lpXWAhXGwrwKHTkuAvYQ1QIIaigD
https://www.google.com.au/search?rlz=1C1CHBF_enAU743AU743&q=ring+the+bell+chemotherapy&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiHlNO0lpXWAhXGwrwKHTkuAvYQ1QIIZygA
https://www.google.com.au/search?rlz=1C1CHBF_enAU743AU743&q=end+of+treatment+bell&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiHlNO0lpXWAhXGwrwKHTkuAvYQ1QIIbSgG
https://www.kansascity.va.gov/features/Ring_this_bell_three_times_well.asp the poems on this last link are beautiful ....
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I think you are on the right track @JoeyLiz.
I am not fond of ceremony--it makes me feel embarrassed, unworthy, irritated, delayed, scrutinized or all of the above. Not everyone feels that way. I'll admit to having a good bawl in the rain in the carpark at the end of rads. There is something a bit prosaic about crying in the rain compared to getting recognition I'd finished a medical marathon, but it was enough for me. I can see some sort of closing or transition ritual being quite useful for those who choose to participate.
The chemo bell has been around for a while. What to do with someone finishing rads?
I always associated radiotherapy with burns so blowing out a candle would work on one level. The issue (apart from the fire sensors) is that blowing out a candle has different conotations for different cultures.
Maybe some sort of water ceremony? Pouring water from one vessel to another--difficult without introducing some quasi religious element. Pouring glitter into a dedicated fountain? Difficult without having a maintenance dude who nearly stokes out about cleaning filters.
Good plan though, keep mining for ideas. Mxx3 -
@JoeyLiz Great idea to come up with something symbolic!
I like what @SoldierCrab put up - one of her links is a poem. Is there someone local that has been affected and would be willing to write a poem that could be part of a bell ritual, for those that want to participate or at least read the poem.
Maybe there's a local group that you could engage to make something, soap or flannels as a parting gift with the poem wrapped up with it?
Just a thought!
https://www.facebook.com/Endoftreatmentbells/
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I was happy just to give some chocolates to the chemo staff,who wished me good health and sneak off quietly. The same with radiotherapy, couldn't wait to get outta there!4
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Thanks for all the links @SoldierCrab they are a lovely read
im glad the bell helped you @kmakm I must admit today finishing chemo I felt a bit disappointed that there wasn’t anything which is weird as I’m not usually into that sort of stuff!
some great ideas thanks @Zoffiel and @iserbrown
we love getting chocolates or homemade cookies etc @poodlejules my favourite though is reading the messages in the cards3 -
Congratulations on finishing! A real milestone. How are you feeling?0
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Yes I get that that feeling. I'm viewing my treatment as being in four parts. I've just completed the second part, the third is my big op on the 27/4, and the fourth is seven years of hormone therapy. Roll on May 2025... I'm sincerely hoping that chemotherapy is the worst of it. What surgery are you having, if you don't mind me asking?0
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I’m having hookwire guided wide local excision (lumpectomy) and sentinal nose biopsy. Wow it’s such a long time isn’t it! We often don’t realise0
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Node* not nose hahaha0
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Congrats on finishing! Woohoo!1
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Joeyliz breathe and let it go ..... that part of this roller coaster is finished girl ....2
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I had those two procedures. Uncomfortable but not too bad. Had to hold my boob to my chest while bending down for a while!
Yes, too long to get my head around. I don't like to think about it much, it's rather depressing.0
