Redefining the Bell: Recognizing Milestones in Cancer Care
Abstract
The end-of-treatment bell-ringing tradition is believed to have started at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. According to the MD Anderson Cancer Center (Montgomery, 2019), this tradition started in 1996 and was initiated by a patient, Irve Le Moyne. While being treated with radiation for head and neck cancer, U.S. Navy Admiral Le Moyne explained to his physician that he wished to observe a long-standing naval tradition—ringing a bell to signal that a task had been completed.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Palliative and Oncologic Care
Cancer survivorship and care
Women's cancer prevention and management
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Clinical journal of oncology nursing
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 75–79
- Publication date
- 3 February 2026
- Language
- EN