Returning from a cancer-induced knitting hiatus

After I was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer in June, I had no desire to knit. Why, with such a grim prognosis, would I sit inside when I could be spending every moment outside walking, soaking up the fresh air, sitting among the patio flowers?

[fo: Shape It Scarf. Yarn is Dream in Color Classy; color is Ruby River. I love this scarf and am working on another one and have plans for a third.]

Yes, I could be knitting at the same time as I sit outdoors, but then I’m watching the needles and not the outdoors. (Okay, I’m not as proficient a knitter as many of you, especially when I’m knitting with two or three strands of yarn.)

[fo: Fountain Hat (pattern revised so it's not so droopy in back). Yarn is Araucania Nature Wool Multy; color is 407. I loved knitting with this yarn.]

Also, I felt pretty awful. At first I was recovering from surgery where almost half my right lung was removed to take out the colon cancer metastases there. After a recovery period, I went right into six months of chemo – 12 rounds, one every two weeks – and it has been grueling. At first I felt too sick to do anything.

[fo: Easy Roll Brim Hat. Two yarns held together, one a gift of cashmere, the other Dream in Color Classy; color is Some Summer Sky. This is my favorite hat for a walk on a cold day.]

Then my hair started wafting to the floor. It didn’t leave all at once like some cancer patients. I still have enough of my hair after nine rounds of colon cancer chemo so people don’t notice.

[fo: Easy Roll Brim Hat with a button I couldn't resist. Yarn is Cascade 220 Superwash; color 1909.]

But my head gets chilly with my much thinner hair, so I finally began to knit again — hats. A friend knitted two hats for me. I bought a soft cotton knit night hat I love from Soft Hats because my head gets cold at night too. After receiving and knitting a few hats, I now have enough and am starting on scarves.

  
[fo: Slouch hat; my favorite for wearing around the house. Yarn is Crystal Palace Yarns Cotton Chenille Solid; color is Persian Turquoise. It's a very soft hat and the yarn did not worm as I knit.]

My attention span is too short now to attend to the larger knitting projects I was working on. I have lots of small knitting projects in various stages, and I move from one to another. Then I go up to my daughter’s old room, which is now my art studio, and I work on my art projects there.

[fo: Easy Roll Brim Hat. Yarn is Cascade 220 Paints / Hand Dyed; color is 9867. I held two strands of this yarn together to make a warm hat. I love this combination of pink and gray. This is one of my favorite hats.]

Then I may meditate…or take the dog for a walk…or take a nap…or do some Internet research on colon cancer treatments…or read in front of the fireplace and warm my chilly feet. (Yes, sometimes they get cold even with my worsted knitted wool socks on; the joys of chemo.)

 

I have also started a new colon cancer website if you know anyone who could benefit from another perspective: http://centerofthecircle.com/.