A CANCER patient who may never get to ring the end of treatment bell at Halton Hospital in Runcorn has written a poem for people of various stages in their cancer journey.
With her treatment being palliative, Jane Brady, 54, who has breast cancer, introduced a new meaning to the bell's end of treatment signal.
Jane, from Frodsham, said: “I wrote a poem about the journey of having cancer after a conversation with one of my nurses who was looking for a new poem to be more inclusive to patients who would never finish treatment.
"It was one of the matrons who saw the poem and the idea to introduce it across The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre was born.
“Like me, many patients want to ring the bell but may never come to the end of their treatment. It can be really upsetting for patients to hear others ringing the bell knowing their turn will never come."
Laura Selby, deputy ward manager at CANTreat at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre said: “Jane’s poem has given the bell new meaning and now we can make sure patients know they can ring it whenever they’d like to; in the traditional sense when they finish treatment or at any other point.
The bell
“It’s about giving our patients that choice. Dealing with cancer is a very personal journey for each of our patients and we want to make sure that’s reflected in the support we offer them. This bell gives patients hope, but we want this enhanced version of the bell will mean lots of other things to our patients as well.”
The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre will be introducing Jane's poem at its sites in Wirral and Aintree as well as its clinics in Halton General and other hospitals across the region.
Jane’s poem is displayed next to the bell on the ward she was treated on and patients are encouraged to read it aloud and ring the bell at whatever point in their treatment pathway they would like, whether that be to give them courage before their first ever chemotherapy session or perhaps after a particularly hard week of feeling unwell.
Patients at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre can still choose to read the original poem and ring the bell at the end of their treatment.
Jane's poem reads as follows:
"The bell is here for you to ring,
"While those around you cheer and sing.
"Already you have come so far,
"You're stronger than you think you are.
"The journey's hard, make no mistake,
"Each day, small steps you need to take.
"With love and strength to you we say,
"The bell will help you on your way."
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