Last day ideas

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 cards

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!

@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/

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. Mxx

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 .... 

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!

https://www.targetingcancer.com.au/2016/04/ringing-in-the-end-of-treatment/

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/parramatta/ringing-the-celebration-bell-is-every-young-cancer-patients-dream-at-the-childrens-hospital-westmead/news-story/3bd0a64d421b8da7e60b50359fc03f29

here are some Bell posts Joey....