I found out at church yesterday that another friend of mine has cancer, stage four lymphoma. She’s about my age, and has three very young children. She starts chemo today. She asked me to knit her a hat.
Her prognosis is pretty good. She said that lymphoma is a highly treatable cancer, but she’s scheduled for six months of chemo, every other Monday, and she doesn’t yet know how well her body will handle it. She looked very thin and frail to me yesterday.
It’s so sad.
So I need to knit a pretty and soft hat, and I’m not quite sure what to do. We’re coming into summer, so something lightweight seems smart, but I’ve heard that cancer patients can feel cold, even in a warm room. Maybe an Esther Williams would be appropriate?
June 19th, 2006 at 2:54 am
Sorry to hear about your friend, cancer is a terrible disease. When my brother was taking chemo in the summer of 2004, he preferred a brimmed bucket hat.
http://www.chicknits.com/catalog/aranbucket.html
June 19th, 2006 at 3:24 am
Laura, I was just reading that someone made one of Grumperina’s Odessa caps without the beads as a chemo cap – I think that sounds like a lovely choice. Then again, I also like the Esther Wiliams hat!
June 19th, 2006 at 3:59 am
It is hopeful to hear the prognosis is good, but how scary for her and her family. I would do a search on the internet and give her some choices. Let her pick something that will help her feel pretty while wearing it. I too heard cancer patients receiving chemo are often very chilly so the lamb’s pride might help.
June 19th, 2006 at 4:13 am
Hi Laura,
When my mom had chemo, and for the months afterward that she was growing hair, she wore the blue blog’s ABC hat. Quick, easy, cute rolled brim.
I’d advise a v. v. soft merino wool for the hat – it’s reasonably warm, breathes, and, you’re right – your friend will feel really cold regardless of the weather.
You are wonderfully generous to do this for your friend.
June 19th, 2006 at 4:44 am
When I worked at Ronald McDonald House, some of the kids on chem wore hats but others didn’t. I’m talking about kids under thirteen and we all know that kids’ thermostats don’t work the same as adults’ anyhow but I suspect it proves that one’s reaction to temperature while on chemo is a personal thing.
Can you a hat with an offer to make another warmer or cooler when her needs change?
No matter what you make, if she’s in for six months of chemo the temperatures are going to change and she will surely need a warm hat by the end.
June 19th, 2006 at 7:17 am
Laura, I’m so sorry to hear about your friend. My best girlfriend from high school has stage four colon cancer. I knit her both Shedir, its in the Knitty breast cancer issue, and Grumperina’s Odessa both in Rowan Calmer. Yes I did knit in beads in Odessa and they don’t seem to be an issue. Tracy had only recently lost her hair when I gave her the hats. She commented that the Calmer was the softest thing she had had on her head yet. Calmer is a bit expensive but well worth it for that speical bald head.
Knit with love and healing for your friend, not that I need to tell you that. 🙂
June 19th, 2006 at 7:53 am
What about this one, in the new magknits?
http://magknits.com/June06/patterns/roseofsharon.htm
It’s pretty and super chic, and the gauge could probably be adjusted to make the holes in the pattern less visible. The cashsoft would be super-warm and very soft, but still create a thinner fabric, more summeresque.
June 19th, 2006 at 7:56 am
I emailed you last christmas about using the Ester Williams Hat as a chemo hat for a friend’s sister. I used truffles cashmere (reasonable for my budget used one and half) and size 4 mm needles. She loved it, and so did her family. She said it was the perfect fit and the perfect thinkness.
June 19th, 2006 at 9:57 pm
I would use a very soft merino also… my dad is VERY cold from chemo and surgery this summer. He wears his norweigan snowflake hat during the day. I think Esther W hat would be good… so would Odessa (and you can add beads…. even girls losing their hair like “bling”)
June 20th, 2006 at 12:49 am
I would go for Shedir from Knitty, an exquisite looking pattern, and it also seems like a nice fit. Hope your friend gets well.
June 20th, 2006 at 10:22 am
So sorry to hear about your friend, although I’m sure she’ll come through it. 🙂 My cousin had lymphoma when he was in his teens (he’s the same age as me) so the chemo was pretty much just being tested out. Thankfully, he’s been in remission now for almost 15 years.
June 21st, 2006 at 2:46 am
step 1: go to hilltop yarn & needlepoint
step 2: find the butter-soft italian merino; the ball band is the kind that sticks out of the ball, not wraps all the way around, it’s black & the lettering is white & I THINK the brand starts with a Z
step 3: buy 2 balls; I THINK it was about $8/ball, pre-tax
step 4: knit hat.
at least, that’s what I did for a gal I used to work with who needed a soft chemo cap. BEAUTIFUL raspberry-colored merino, softest yarn I’ve ever felt, softer even than cashmere. gorgeous.
June 22nd, 2006 at 3:04 am
Whatever yarn you use, make sure it is super soft as chemo not only eliminates hair, it also makes skin super sensitive.
A knit hat will be perfect, and she might also like some silk scarves.
I lost my best friend to leukemia when we were freshmen in college. Your friend will be in my prayers.