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“Mascara moment” on Radio 2 to mark end of cancer treatment

Ralph

Ralph with wife being presented with certificate

Ralph Gilbert, of Hornchurch, had the nation reaching for their tissues this week, when he rang the Chris Evans Breakfast show as part of their segment where listeners call in to talk about something they’re doing for the first time.

Ralph, 70, called to say that he was ringing the End of Treatment Bell at Queen’s Hospital, for the first time, to mark the end of a course of radiotherapy for prostate cancer. He’d visited our hospital 20 times over the course of a month. 

The idea of the bell came originally from Tracey Peyton, who set up the End of Treatment Bell charity, to place them in departments across the country for cancer patients to mark the end of their treatment.

Self-effacing Ralph, who has two daughters and two grandchildren, said: “I called in because I wanted to say thank you to all the staff at Queen’s Hospital for their fantastic care and treatment.”

He was in turn surprised on air by his daughter Kay, who contacted the show to pay tribute calling him: “An amazing dad and a flipping legend!”

Ralph explained: “I got the diagnosis in April. The support has been wonderful. There was a mass of information and I went to King George Hospital and spoke to the clinical nurse specialist. It was nice to know there was a single point of contact.

“After I was diagnosed, I was given a surgery option and a non-surgical option and was free to make my own mind up. There was no pressure about my decision.

“I was a bit doubtful about telling my family and a bit afraid, but my daughters were very supportive. I was dreading telling my sister even more, because she’s had cancer, and I did worry, but I was overwhelmed with how supportive she was.”

Wife Sheila has attended every day with Ralph. She said: “I’ve hated seeing him in such difficulty, but he’s been a trooper, which has made it easier for me.”

Of his treatment, he said: “It’s gone surprisingly quickly. The process itself is absolutely painless, although there are side-effects of course. They even let me play my Kenny G to relax during treatments.”

Ralph was treated on our new Halcyon radiotherapy machine – the first of its kind in the country. It’s designed to be more accurate, faster, and more comfortable for patients. We have one of the busiest cancer departments in the country at Queen’s Hospital.

Stuart McCaighy, our Head of Radiotherapy, said: “I’m so proud Ralph was pleased with his treatment here and we wish him the very best. We love seeing patients ring the bell – it’s one of the best sounds you can hear in the hospital!”

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