To really hate that bell

[Royalegardenchamo]

My lovely dad has stage 4 cancer, we're 6 months into a 12 month prognosis. The clock is ticking and he's now very unwell but still receiving treatment.

I am so fed up of hearing people ring that bell. Its right next to the waiting room, right next to the treatment room. I burst out crying when I heard it today.

I think it's a hideous idea. Surely they could think of something more discreet. I just don't understand it. My dad hates it too. It's crept into my mums dreams at night.

Thankyou, yes she was. Sadly the day she received her "all-clear" was the day she contracted covid ( it was the only time she left the house in early March 2020), and where cancer failed covid succeeded 4 weeks later. So ringing that bell would have meant bugger all really.

DH had six weeks of radiotherapy for incurable cancer and after the final session he was encouraged to ring the bell. I could tell he didn't want to, it seemed so awkward and incongruous; celebratory when actually we knew the best case scenario was that the tumour growth would slow down. But then again, if someone wants to celebrate and relishes ringing the bell, that's their choice and DH wouldn't want to take that moment away from them.

Ugh. Cancer is just so, so shit.

I've just seen that Amy Dowden has had a Hello magazine style ringing the bell party at The Shard. Didn't realise that this is a thing now.