Rob Dillard

DocwireNews

<p>The ceremonial ringing of the bell that takes place at the end of a course of <a href="https://www.docwirenews.com/docwire-pick/hem-onc-picks/previously-developed-non-cancer-therapies-may-have-cancer-fighting-potential/">cancer</a> treatment may cause more harm than good, according to a study which appeared in the <em>International Journal of Radiation Oncology.</em><p>In this study, researchers looked at 200 patients with cancer -of which half rang the bell at the end of treatment and half of did not &ndash; and found that those who rang a bell remembered treatment as more distressful than those who finished without ringing a bell.</p><h2>Cancer Bell Creates A &lsquo;Flashbulb Event&rsquo;</h2><p>The outcome surprised the study&rsquo;s lead investigator, Patrick A. Williams, MD, a radiation oncologist who led the study and said in a <a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-01/asfr-iit012220.php">press release</a> that: &ldquo;We expected the bell to improve the memory of treatment distress. But in fact, the opposite occurred. Ringing the bell actually made the memory of treatment worse, and those memories grew even more pronounced as time passed.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;We think this is because ringing the bell creates a &lsquo;flashbulb event&rsquo; in a patient&rsquo;s life &ndash; that is, a vivid snapshot of their memories from that time,&rdquo; said Dr. Williams, explaining that events become more deeply embedded in our memories if emotions are aroused, due to connections in the brain between memory and emotion. &ldquo;Rather than locking in the good feelings that come with completing treatment, however, ringing the bell appears to lock in the stressful feelings associated with being treated for cancer.&rdquo;</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Is it time to stop ringing the cancer bell?  <a href="https://t.co/5rVKzpNtXy">https://t.co/5rVKzpNtXy</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Ken Gusler (@kgusler) <a href="https://twitter.com/kgusler/status/1220038878725386241?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2020</a></p>
</blockquote><p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p>&ldquo;We can consider other avenues that would allow patients to celebrate reaching the end of their treatment, but without negatively reinforcing things that perhaps might best be forgotten,&rdquo; agreed Richard Jennelle, MD, an associate professor of clinical radiation oncology at the Keck School and senior investigator on the study.</p><p>&ldquo;Many well-intended practices can lead to bad outcomes,&rdquo; concluded Dr. Williams. &ldquo;We should study interventions before implementing them &ndash; even ones that are well-intended.&rdquo;</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Is it time to stop ringing the cancer bell? <a href="https://t.co/BhNq7oMIkR">https://t.co/BhNq7oMIkR</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/instapaper?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@instapaper</a></p>
<p>&mdash; James Igoe (@JamesJosephIgoe) <a href="https://twitter.com/JamesJosephIgoe/status/1220158107382210560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2020</a></p>
</blockquote><p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p><p>&nbsp;</p></p>


Jordana Jampel

Distant Brain Metastases in Cutaneous Melanoma May Be Mitigated With Multiple Pathway Inhibitors

Melanoma

Eric Bergson, MD

The Role of Multidisciplinary Care in Head and Neck Cancer

Head and Neck Cancer

Sara Nunnery, MD, MSCI

Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in HER2-Low Breast Cancer: Who’s the Right Patient?

HER2 Breast Cancer

Latest News

Ringing the Ceremonial “Cancer Bell” Following Course of Treatment May Have Unintended Consequences on Patients

Oncology

The ceremonial ringing of the bell that takes place at the end of a course of cancer treatment may cause more harm than good, according to a study which appeared in the ...

Ringing the Ceremonial “Cancer Bell” Following Course of Treatment May Have Unintended

About Us

Editorial Policy

Advertising

Contact Us

eNewsletters

Contribute

Career Center

MashupMD

Blood Cancers Today

Cancer Nursing Today

GU Oncology Now

Urban Health Today

Bile Duct Cancer

Colorectal Cancer

Gastroesophageal Cancer

Gastric Cancer

GEP-NETs

GIST

Liver Cancer

Pancreatic Cancer

GI Oncology Now

Anemia

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Essential Thrombocythemia

Hemophilia

Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Myelofibrosis

Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

Polycythemia Vera

Pulmonary Embolism

Sickle Cell Disease

Thrombocytopenia

Thrombophilia

Thrombosis

Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Venous Thromboembolism

von Willebrand Disease

Heme Today

Acute Kidney Injury

ADPKD

Anemia and Kidney Disease

Chronic Kidney Disease

COVID-19 and Kidney Disease

Diabetes and Hypertension

End-Stage Renal Disease

Gout

Hyperkalemia

IgAN

Kidney Transplantation

Metabolic Acidosis

Nephrology Times

HR Breast Cancer

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Genetics & Breast Cancer

Breast Cancers Today

Atherosclerotic Disease

Atrial Fibrillation

Heart Failure

Hypertension

Interventional Cardiology

Lipid Management

Practice Tips With Dr. Lichaa

Preventive Cardiology

Stroke

Cardiology

Breast Cancer

Gynecologic Cancer

Skin Cancer

Sleep

Urology

Diabetes

Ophthalmology

— Demodex Blepharitis

Neurology

Rheumatology

Gastroenterology

Pulmonology

Infectious Diseases

— HIV

Health and Wellness

Lupus

Future of Medicine

Orthopedics

Pharmacology

Career News

More

Conferences

CardioNerds

The Sleep Source With Dr. Morse

Rheumatology Rounds With Dr. Maheswaranathan

Partners

Expert Interviews

Subscribe