Cold Cap Chemo Countdown
Pen, pencil, oil pastel, acrylic paint and original collage on paper 42 × 29.7 cm, 2025
Drawn from a surreal chapter of my life, this piece reflects eleven weeks of chemotherapy — Friday mornings spent in a recliner chair in the day oncology unit, my arm outstretched and my head beneath a freezing cold cap to preserve my hair.
Most Fridays were bright and sunny. During my sessions I would read messages of support from family and friends and watch hot air balloons drifting in the distance — small reminders of life's beauty amid difficulty.
As I counted down the weeks, I thought of those newly diagnosed, those in treatment, and those for whom treatment is ongoing; those walking beside loved ones, and those mourning friends and family lost to this disease. I also thought of the people whose lives have been cut short, and of the fundraisers, researchers, surgeons, oncologists, and healthcare practitioners whose dedication gives us hope.
The daffodil was painted to honour every life touched by cancer.
© Sam Jackson 2026. All rights reserved.
