We know from our Online Community that dealing with cancer can be overwhelming. People with cancer and their family members, or loved ones, often look for emotional support and practical advice or ways to get involved with others for cancer support online.
With Macmillan’s Online Community, you have come to the right place to talk to others who understand. Here you can find peer support and talk to other people with real lived cancer experience.
But where do you start?
In today’s Community News Blog that’s exactly what we’re talking about. We're highlighting all the different support available on the Community and also providing tips to help you get started.
Using the Online Community
The first thing to say is that we know new websites or technologies can be overwhelming at first. We created our Help Pages to help you navigate the Community. They have useful guides and screenshots on how to do most things on the site.
We are also always available at community@macmillan.org.uk anytime for questions, feedback, or concerns. You can chat to us directly on webchat here too.
Throughout our Community News Blogs we will often include links to other parts of the Community, or occasionally content from the main Macmillan or other websites.
Links will always be underlined and you can use ‘CTRL’ + click to open any link in a new tab (or ‘CMND’ + click on Apple devices), that way you won’t lose the page you are currently on.
Cancer Support Forums
We know that many people who come to the Online Community are looking to find others in similar circumstances, to talk to people with real lived cancer experiences. Our Community forums are here for you to find emotional support and practical advice.
Our groups section is where you can find the forums most relevant to you. You can browse by cancer type based on diagnosis, or cancer experience (such as being a family member or loved one of someone affected by cancer).
You can also use the search bar at the top of the page to find what you are looking for on the Community.
Keep in mind that the search bar has a ‘lazy load’ so it searches as you type. It can sometimes be better to copy and paste whatever you would like to search for. It also tends to only look wherever you already are. If you are looking at groups, that’s where it will search. Using the homepage can be best to search the whole site.
How do I know it's a safe space to share?
We work hard to keep the Online Community a safe, kind, and anonymous space for people affected by cancer to find support. To read more about how we do this check out our Community Guidelines.
Blogs
You are currently reading a post in our Community News Blog. Here we share members’ stories, post updates from the Community Team, and much more.
On the Community News Blog homepage you will see you can search by topics to find the content that is most interesting to you.
If writing about your experiences in depth is something you might enjoy or find helpful, you could start a personal blog in our blogs section. You can read others’ personal blogs and stories here.
The blog editor can be a bit fiddly so don’t hesitate to get in touch with us on the Community Team either by email (community@macmillan.org.uk), in the help group, or on webchat for technical support or assistance. To come straight through to us on webchat, remember to select ‘Online Community Help’ in the ‘Subject’ when joining.
Community Champions
We couldn’t talk about the Online Community without mentioning our wonderful Community Champions. These lovely people are seasoned members of the Community who are often around to offer direction and emotional support to new and existing members of the cancer support forums.
Look out for the badges at the bottom of their posts, to know you are chatting to a Community Champion.
Macmillan Support and Health Professionals
The focus on the Online Community is mainly emotional peer support, often from other people affected by cancer facing something similar.
We do also have a space to ask Macmillan professionals questions too though.
This is our Ask an Expert section and in here you can find information and support from qualified professionals.
Our Ask a Nurse section is very popular. You can ask our Cancer Information Nurse Specialists any questions you have around cancer treatment, side effects, and much more.
The service is available from Monday to Friday, 9am till 5pm, and you will receive a response within 3 working days.
Further Support
Many people affected by cancer have other factors that contribute towards their experiences of cancer and feelings and we have a number of more specific spaces for you to get support.
We know that it can be helpful to find people who have had similar experiences to you, beyond the same cancer diagnosis.
We’ve highlighted a few groups below.
LGBTQ+ cancer support.
We have an LGBTQ+ cancer support forum. A space to get support if you identify as LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans*) or any other minority sexuality/gender identity. We welcome all who have been affected by cancer to share their experiences. Cancer doesn’t discriminate, neither do Macmillan.
Dealing with an incurable cancer diagnosis
Whether you have been given an incurable diagnosis, or you are a supporting a loved one or family member with an incurable diagnosis, we have a forum for you to get support from people who understand.
Supporting someone as a carer
Our carers only group is a safe ‘only’ space for people caring for loved ones or family member affected by cancer.
Talk to Someone from Macmillan - not on the Community
For those looking to speak directly with a Macmillan professional, there is always the Macmillan Support Line. It offers confidential support to those with cancer and their loved ones.
This service is available over the phone, by email, or on webchat. You can read more about the Macmillan Support Line on this page.
We hope you found this Community News blog to be a useful whistle-stop tour of the support available to you on Macmillan’s Online Community.
As always comments, feedback, or concerns are welcome. You can use the comment section below or email us anytime at community@macmillan.org.uk.
