Bell-Ringing Will Be Celebratory Ritual for Patients Who Conquer Cancer
Sands Point resident and cancer survivor Peter A. Forman presented the medical staff at NYU Winthrop Hospital with a large ship’s bell that is to serve as a symbol of hope at Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Winthrop Hospital Infusion Center. The bell is to be rung in celebration by patients—like Forman—who conquer cancer. Forman initiated the bell-ringing today to mark the milestone that his own treatments have concluded, and he is now cancer free.
Forman is a former public company CEO, entrepreneur, and the commissioner of the Port Washington–Manhasset Office of Emergency Management, as well as a Sands Point Village Trustee. He was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) in September of 2018. APL accounts for about 1,000 of the approximate 31,000 cases of adult leukemia each year. Forman underwent an eight-month regimen of treatments since his first diagnosis, sometimes undergoing infusions five to seven days a week, week after week, and month after month. He finished his last treatment at 9:35AM today, then rang the bell at 9:45AM to a thrilled crowd that included his family, close friends, his treating physician, Jaime A. Suarez-Londono, MD, along with nurses, staff, and chief of the Division of Oncology–Hematology, Jeffrey G. Schneider, MD.
In honor of all those that come after him in conquering cancer, Forman had the new brass bell inscribed with the following: “Ring this bell, three times well, to celebrate this day. This course is run, my treatment done; now I am on my way.”
”I hope the bell will serve as a source of inspiration for patients during their treatments and of accomplishment upon completion,” said Forman. “For nurses, I would like the bell to mark a success of which they can be proud.”
Added Forman, “Cancer has been a life-redefining event. I am filled with gratitude to my medical teams, family, friends, and God. I work hard every day to hold on to that gratitude!”
“Medicine has made great inroads in treating—and curing—a wide range of cancers,” said Dr. Schneider. “NYU Winthrop looks forward to regularly hearing the sound of this bell, as patients celebrate being cancer-free.”
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