Vocal Voices

There's a bit in the papers today about hospitals giving cancer treatment and the custom that seems to have grown up of patients, when they have had their last treatment and been declared in remission, celebrating by reading a poem and loudly ringing a (ship's) bell amidst applause from staff and family.

But other patients, who have failed in their treatment, have said that they find this public celebration on the wards incredibly distressing. Shrewsbury Hospital have now gone to the lengths of removing the bell. MacMillan are rather on the fence over it, saying that the ceremony is entirely optional.

I believe a similar sort of system applies at slimming clubs if you lose a couple of pounds or something on your weekly weigh-in, (pour encourager les autres, as the Frenchies would say) but I know Mrs O, when she used to attend, always felt uncomfortable with it.

Once can see both points of view - what do you think?

Well I have been to lots of slimming clubs over the years, and never come across that before, so I don't think it's still done!

Not sure about the cancer treatment bell, I can see both sides of that argument

I have never been comfortable with these kinds of open displays though I do accept that they might work for some people. I have always had a bit of a suspicion that people could be pressured into taking part "because we all do it".

I would prefer to go sit somewhere quiet and in my mind's eye do a clenched fist and silent scream of "YESSSS!" take that you %$£%&*).

Yes, "F**k cancer!" as our lovely and much missed Di used to say!

If it upset other people (and you can see how it well might) I wouldn't do it. I'd be quiet and relieved.

I would rather keep quiet and give a sigh of relief as well