Healthy Hobbies and Comforting Crafts Offer Many Benefits for Cancer Patients & Survivors (Part 1 of ?)!

PLEASE Read ALL Responses - You’ll Be Glad You Did!

Hobbies and crafts can offer significant benefits for cancer patients and survivors, including improved mental well-being, stress reduction, and a sense of purpose, while also providing a creative outlet and social connection… while adding an elements of joy, fun, and opportunities to live life to its fullest!

One of our very first TLC activities was a Cancer Survivor’s “Hobby & Craft Showcase” in May of 2000, which we repeated several years with the last one held in 2014. It was my hope to bring back this event back in May of this year to commemorate 25 years of TLC. If reading this Local Cancer Community Update happens to be one of your “healthy hobbies”, you will have seen the announcements. However, due to a lack of interest/response, we are modifying the May TLC Survivorship Session to a simpler and more casual TLC Cancer Survivor’s “Hobby & Craft Show & Tell!”

In preparation for that session, I sent out an e-mail survey to a small portion of survivors from our Local Cancer Community Update e-mail list that consisted of two simple questions:

Q1. As a cancer survivor, what healthy hobby or comforting craft do you enjoy or participate in?

Q2. How has it helped you throughout your cancer experience?

My plans were to include some of the comments I received in an article touting the important role and benefits that hobbies and crafts play in the lives of cancer patients/survivors. But, as the responses came in, I realized I didn’t have to write an article… all I needed to do was simply share the responses I received! Here they all are, in the order I received them!

Candy:

Q1. Couple things, yoga and pickleball.

Q2. Both for the friendships which I feel have been a lifesaver, especially during covid. And also for my body and mind.

Greg:

Q1. Play piano and walk the dog.

Q2. Kept me active and kept my brain sharp.

Beth:

Q1. I really enjoy time at CF&G. Yoga also.

Q2. It seems to center me and helps me appreciate how precious each day and each season of our life is.

Sandy:

Q1. Gardening. I love to work in my yard when possible.

Q2. It’s therapeutic for me.

Cindy:

Q1. Jigsaw puzzles. I started doing puzzles after my cancer surgery and still do them.

Q2. To me they are relaxing and take my mind off scary worries.

Nancy:

Q1. I like to do a variety of crafts. Lately I have been working on an embroidery project my mother didn’t finish before she passed away.

Q2. It Has helped me remember that life does go on.

Aija:

Q1. I ride my Peloton bike and go out hiking. Kohler Andrea and Harrington are two favorite spots especially having the birds eat from my hand at Harrington.

Q2. Since I am recovering from cancer treatments (ended July 2024) I wanted to improve my physical health and lose my chemo weight gain. The metrics have really helped push me further than without them since I keep trying to go faster and beat others. I'd say I am in better physical shape then when I started chemo in February of 2024. At least according to the metrics on my apple watch VO2 max and resting heart rate, recovery rate etc. And bonus - I lost the Chemo weight gain.

Monika:

Q1. My healthy hobby is gardening in the summer and nurturing my houseplants in the winter.

Q2. This helps me stay active in the summer while enjoying the fruits of my labor.It reminds me just like a plant we need to nurture and feed our body with all the right things to remain healthy.

Brenda:

Q1. I have engaged in trying to be healthier, gardening, and yoga., walking.

Q2. I had to modify my exercise since I was diagnosed. So these things help me be healthy as possible and still. No matter what the thick n thin is happening. Keeps me moving forward, keep a positive attitude. Keep the negative at bay.

John:

Q1. a) making videos on my YouTube Channel, b) woodworking / boat building, c) working on my sports cars, d) rowing

Q2. These interests provide the motivation to survive with cancer, and
concentrate on living life to the fullest.

Kate:

Q1. I love to craft. Crafting is my happy place. I actually have a craft room in my basement where I can do all things crafty. My kids come down there to craft with me and it is my place to let my imagination go and let go of the stressors in my life. We are a very active outdoor family. We enjoy hiking, skiing(summer and winter), biking, etc. I still have my rower but have not been on it in over a month because we are renovating that portion of our basement for an office. I hope once the office is complete to get back onto the rower again!

Q2. I think one of the biggest struggles or hurdles with cancer is your mind or psyche. During treatments it is taxing however after treatments, when the physical struggles (nausea, hair loss, fatigue, etc) have subsided, it’s the mind that can become your biggest enemy. I find that when I am able to spend a portion of my day doing something that I enjoy, crafting/creating, I feel rejuvenated. I love to have friends over to craft. It is the best therapy for me!

Maryellen:

Q1. I walk daily, aiming for about 2 miles/day. More is better, however. I get to the “Y” at least twice weekly. I stretch or do qi gong. I row, mostly during our row season. I garden & preserve our organic goodies

Q2. Movement & strength exercises are essential for everyone, & I think even more essential after a cancer journey. Being outdoors provides calm, beauty, &fresh air to aid health. And digging in the dirt & watching things grow feeds my soul.

Sue:

Q1. I enjoy volunteering for organizations like SCCCF and our local Food Pantry where I can make a difference and hopefully put a smile on someone's face.

Q2. After receiving treatment for my cancer I discovered I needed to live life to the fullest. This includes not only moving my body more, but also giving back to those who may need a little help. I like the way I feel when I'm making a difference.

Dan:

Q1. My healthy habits are: hunting, cycling, hiking, traveling and participating inactivities associated with cancer survivors and veterans

Q2. All of these activities help to remind me that I can still do the things I did before having cancer. I may have to do them differently but I'm still doing them. Just because I had/have cancer doesn't mean my life has to stop. Staying involved in my life's activities keeps me grateful I'm still enjoying life.

Dione:

Q1. I have had lots of hobbies over the years. My latest are swimming, pickle ball and water volleyball.

Q2. Staying active helps me sleep better at night. It also keeps me in a community of others, like the Y. I also love social sports that help me to stay connected to others. Fortunately, I have found joy in all of these. No longer running, I think those days are over.

Bob:

Q1. Fishing, boating, exploring, woodwork, metalwork, bicycling, planning, games,almost anything.

Q2. I like having the excitement of starting, doing, and completing an activity.

Barb:

Q1. I’ve always enjoyed doing almost any sewing activity and that hobby continued during my cancer journey.

Q2. If I’m feeling down a few minutes in the sewing room always helps!

Tammy:

Q1. If it’s summer or not horrible winter weather I love to kayak and take walks in the woods or trails.

Q2. It has helped me because I feel relaxed and energized while kayaking. And walking in the beautiful woods calms me and makes me happy. Love to feel the sunshine!

Gail:

Q1. I love being at the farm on a daily basis; whether it's helping with daily chores or working with the show animals.

Q2. It gave me a sense of being needed, to push myself. Something to look forward to on a daily basis. Knowing that whatever help I was able to provide, was one less job or task someone else would have to do. A special bond is formed when working with the show animals. Each one has it's own personality ... some times challenging, but most of the time rewarding. When you walk into their area of the barn, they look to you for that scratch under the chin, the extra pat on the head or just any attention you will give them.

The year I was diagnosed with breast cancer and went through treatments, the farm had a standout heifer for the show season. I set a goal for myself ... to work with her to keep her looking her best and ultimately show her at the World Dairy Expo, a show which is the best of the best. Nothing was going to hold us back. With the grace of God, nothing did. I was truly blessed through chemo treatments with no side affects other than hair loss. My medical team worked with me to help me meet my goal. I was able to spend the week at the show and we placed 7th out of 50 animals in the class!! Came home Saturday, surgery was Monday!!

Rae-Ellen:

Q1. Probably my most comforting craft is sewing but it been with me most of my life. Our newest healthy hobby is pickleball.

Q2. Sewing is something I could do when I was stuck at home. And pickleball got me out and moving with other people.

Chris:

Q1. Healthy activities I do are going for walks, going to the Y and to yoga classes with ST&BF. Other activities I enjoy are reading, knitting, putting together puzzles and baking depending on the season.

Q2. The exercise activities give me a sense of control that I can hopefully keep my cancer at bay. It is also a way to challenge myself to not lose any strength,endurance and balance I have. Last of all the classes are a way to connect with others and are a good social outlet with many nice people.

It makes me happy to make something for someone else. My parents taught me not to feel sorry for myself and by doing something for someone else that takes the focus off of me. That has served me well throughout my life. In the end, I have lots to be grateful for and cancer or any other disease will not define me.

Diane:

Q1. I have just been more physically active : biking, walking, yoga,gardening.

Q2. It has helped my mental clarity and also feel more healthy with movement!

Ruth:

Q1. It doesn’t matter if I have cancer or not, I continue with knitting, beading,crochet, and cross stitch. These have always been comforting activities for me.I try to do a little of something each day on my hobbies. Through out my working years I accumulated a lot of projects. My parents influence what I like now, similar in ways to what they liked. Other medical issues keep me close to home. Mainly eye sight and things that include driving limit me to my comfort zone. I volunteer at my church 3 activities and the school lunch duty once a week.

Q2. These crafts and the volunteer activities keep me busy enough for now, and I don’t dwell on the cancer. It’s just regular retirement for me.

Cindy:

Q1. Over the years I have enjoyed rock painting; especially with encouraging or inspirational messages. (I have donated many to Sharon Richardson Hospice and have also hidden them in various areas of the community for people to find. Also, when we were flying kites at Deland park, we were able to place them in the areas that the youngsters from the YMCA daycare could find them. That was fun!!). Another healthy hobby I have enjoyed over the years is finding recipes and "Tweeking them" to make them a more healthy option. Also, I now have my own ERG which I like to use several times a week. And, of course, my dog Buddy...he's my "buddy" when I want to get outdoors for a walk, playing in the backyard.

Q2. This helps me relieve stress as well as burning calories and accumulating meters. Working on puzzles seems very calming and therapeutic for me during troubled times.

Jane:

Q1. Mainly I do walking for exercise, especially beach walking, which I find relaxing and gives me time to either think things through or not think at all and just enjoy the view.

Q2. I think exercise of any kind is important regardless if you have cancer or not,but especially beneficial to cancer patients so you know you can feel normal again and able to do and enjoy the things you did before cancer.

Penny:

Q1. I have been blessed to be able to golf for many years. But I enjoy walking and reading also visiting with friends.

Q2. When I was diagnosed with cancer I was still working and I worked through my chemo treatments and worked out. I enjoyed the yoga classes that you had at the time.when you were just starting your program. This helped me not think about my treatments and kept me busy. Time seemed to fly by. I have been blessed with 22 years this summer being cancer free.

Leah:

Q1. Hiking
Q2. It allows me to get out of my own head and soak up the wonders of nature all around me.... from the peeping of the Spring Peeper to the mighty oak, nature brings me peace and comfort.

Kirstin:

Q1. I must admit I am a bit of an odd duck when it comes to healthy hobbies or crafts. My self-care is more about connecting with others. During my journey, I felt so powerless in my own decisions when it came to my care. It all happened so quickly and felt so overwhelming that I shut down.

Q2. It was my personal experience that created the urge to return to school, become an LCSW, and now support people on their journey, whether it is cancer or other life challenges. My comforting craft is comforting others. I feel this connection has helped me empower myself as I empower others.

Tim:

Other hobbies mentioned included: Kiting, Getting Outdoors, Exercise!

Mark you calendar for Tuesday May 20th - TLC Survivorship Session “Hobby & Craft Show & Tell” and join us as we continue to explore the many benefits of hobbies and crafts and the many hobbies and crafts to choose from!!!