Radiation therapy is an important treatment for cancer patients. During radiation treatments, a linear accelerator machine delivers focused high-energy X-rays to the tumor site. This damages the DNA of cancer cells, causing them to die. A radiation therapy session can last just a few minutes, with the radiation delivered in short bursts. At the end of the treatment, many radiation therapy clinics will ring a bell to signify the completion of that day’s session.
Significance of Ringing the Bell
Ringing the bell after radiation therapy has become a tradition at many cancer treatment centers. It serves several purposes:
- Celebrates progress through treatment – Radiation is given in daily sessions over the course of several weeks. Ringing the bell provides an uplifting moment to mark the completion of each session.
- Offers encouragement – Cancer treatment can be mentally and physically grueling. The bell reminds patients they are one step closer to finishing radiation.
- Creates a sense of community – Fellow patients and staff applaud when the bell is rung, building solidarity and support.
- Symbolizes hope – The bell ringing signifies moving forward in the fight against cancer towards recovery.
The practice originates from a tradition where patients would ring a bell to signify the final day of their radiation treatments. The ringing indicates the transition from being an active cancer patient under treatment to becoming a cancer survivor. Now the celebration occurs after each session rather than just at the end.
When the Bell is Rung
The bell ringing typically takes place immediately after the radiation machine has been turned off. Here is a general timeline of how a standard radiation session goes:
- Patient is brought into the radiation room and helped into position on the treatment table.
- Radiation therapists leave the room and use computers in a controlled area to operate the machine.
- The linear accelerator delivers beams of radiation to the precise tumor location for about 1-5 minutes.
- Radiation completes and therapists turn off the machine.
- Therapists help the patient off the table and out of the room.
- Just outside the treatment room, the patient rings a bell to celebrate finishing the daily session.
Some clinics have developed additional traditions around the timing. For example, at some centers the patient rings the bell before leaving the treatment room so the therapists can participate. Other facilities have staff or fellow patients applaud after the bell ringing.
Significance for Staff
Ringing the bell not only impacts the cancer patient but also can be meaningful for the radiation therapists and other staff members. Here are some of the ways it affects medical team members:
- Creates a sense of fulfillment – It is rewarding for staff to complete another fraction of care that brings their patient closer to potential recovery.
- Validates the importance of their role – It highlights that each session matters, not just the final treatment.
- Reminder of making a difference – The bell and applause demonstrate that staff are helping real people manage a difficult illness.
- Enhances morale – The positive energy from patients can uplift staff and remind them their efforts are appreciated.
- Fosters teamwork – Coordinating to safely deliver radiation and participate in the bell ringing builds unity.
Therefore, the tradition not only provides a meaningful moment for patients but also for the practitioners caring for them. It reinforces the shared mission between medical staff and patients.
Reasons Patients Appreciate Ringing the Bell
Cancer patients who go through radiation therapy have described many reasons they value the opportunity to ring the bell, including:
- A sense of accomplishment – It creates a sense they have achieved the goal for that day’s treatment.
- Feeling supported – The applause makes patients feel encouraged and that people are invested in their recovery.
- A positive milestone – It provides a high point in an otherwise difficult and draining process.
- Hope for the future – Each ring reinforces the confidence that they are moving in the right direction.
- Motivation to continue – The ritual creates the energy to persist through the remaining sessions.
Patients appreciate that the staff take the time to maintain the tradition rather than just moving immediately on to the next person. It makes the experience feel more personalized and human.
Customizing the Bell Ringing
While the ringing of a bell is the most common tradition, some facilities have adapted the practice to make it more meaningful for their patients. Some examples include:
- Letting loved ones ring the bell – This allows family members to actively participate.
- Personalized bells – Some clinics allow patients to bring or select their own bell to ring.
- Decorating the bell – Patients may customize the bell with markers, stickers, or personal mementos.
- Bell choirs – A group of staff or volunteers ring multiple bells together in celebration.
- Cymbals or gongs – The sound of a cymbal crashing or gong resonating creates energy.
- Scheduled celebrations – Some facilities hold larger bell ringing events periodically.
These variations allow patients to make the moment their own while maintaining a unifying ritual. It also enables facilities to add their unique culture.
| Variation | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Loved ones ring bell | Involves family and friends |
| Personalized bells | Patients can customize |
| Bell decorating | Allows creative expression |
| Bell choirs | Creates an energetic, unified experience |
| Different instruments | Provides new, invigorating sounds |
| Scheduled celebrations | Enables larger-scale events |
Overcoming Challenges of Ringing the Bell
While the bell ringing tradition has many benefits, there can also be some logistical challenges to manage, such as:
- Noise complaints – The loud clanging may disturb other patients undergoing treatments.
- Adding time – It takes a few minutes out of each therapy session.
- Cost – Purchasing and maintaining bells costs money.
- Infection control – Bells may transmit germs if not cleaned properly.
- Accessibility – Patients with mobility or tactile sensitivities may not be able to ring the bell.
Here are some potential solutions for managing these issues:
- Ring bell away from treatment areas – Have it outside the radiation room in a hallway or lobby.
- Schedule bell ringers – Only allow it at certain times rather than with every patient.
- Use recordings – Patients press a button to play a bell sound.
- Raise funds – Get bells donated or use proceeds from hospital gift shops.
- Cleaning protocol – Establish procedures to sanitize bells after each use.
- Adaptive options – Provide a bell with a longer clapper or button to press rather than ring by hand.
With some adjustments, clinics can troubleshoot challenges to make bell ringing a welcoming ritual.
Case Study: MD Anderson’s Bell Tradition
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is one of the leading cancer hospitals globally. They have embraced the tradition of patients ringing the bell after radiation treatment sessions.
Bells are housed just outside each radiation therapy room in specially constructed wooden boxes. Patients ring the bells by pulling down on a clapper rather than shaking the bell. This adaptive design makes it accessible for people with mobility constraints or tactile sensitivities.
Clinics coordinate the schedule so treatments finish at staggered times. This prevents too many bells from ringing at once and causing noise disruptions. Each day a bell ringer schedule is printed so staff know which patients want to participate.
MD Anderson also hosts periodic bell ringing ceremonies to bring together the community. Recent patients who have completed radiation are invited back for a group bell ringing with their caregivers and medical team members. This celebrates their transition to cancer survivorship.
The bell tradition at MD Anderson demonstrates how a facility can adapt the ritual to meet patients’ needs while still maintaining a sense of celebration. Their flexible approach ensures all patients have the chance to ring the bell.
Conclusion
The ringing of a bell following radiation therapy has become an important cancer care tradition. It offers a chance to mark progress through treatment and provide encouragement as patients move forward. While the bell ringing may present some logistical hurdles for clinics, it is a simple practice that can significantly uplift patients and staff alike.
With some creativity, radiation therapy facilities can customize the bell ringing ritual to match their unique needs and culture. When patients ring the bell, they know they have completed another step on the path to healing – and that’s worth celebrating.