Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, and may leave many feeling lost. Peer support can be a lifeline, offering comfort, guidance, and hope. We recently reached out to some of our Community Champions to share their views on peer support, and their experiences in Macmillan’s Online Community.
In honour of Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Day (27/07), we are going to hear from Beesuit in this blog. She has been a Community champion for 3 years, helping us keep the Head and Neck cancer forum safe and supported. In this blog, Beesuit shares some experiences and wisdom on the importance of peer support, memorable moments in the forum, and invaluable advice for those navigating their cancer journey.
“You have Cancer.” You hear those words and everything else disappears. You hear nothing else. You get home shocked, not knowing what to do, or what to expect, with unanswered questions flooding your mind.
Google is not your friend but somehow you come across Macmillan. You’ve heard of them before so you take a look and find “The Community.” I’ve been a Community Champion for a few years now, focusing on the Head and Neck Cancer Forum, and every day I see how important peer support is. It’s the medical teams who fight the cancer but the support of those who know what it really feels like helps you fight to believe in yourself and keep you sane, gives you tips to keep well, and shows you the light at the end of the tunnel.
It’s great to hear people post their updates and give advice to others:
“No matter where you are in your treatment, hang in there. The fear is real, but not insurmountable, especially not with the support available here. Treatment is brutal, but fairly short and highly effective. Recovery can be slow, but use the time to re-set yourself, then live your life to the fullest. Small things become immensely beautiful once you've walked the path we have.”
“I just want to start with a thank you - thank you so much to everyone who responded to my 'outcry'. I don’t know what I expected when I posted but it feels like I just got a group of arms put around me and I feel I know have a safe place to express myself without feeling like I am burdening my family with my darker thoughts.”
“Big high was the friendship and understanding of people on here, so many names over the years it seems frivolous to single people out. Hundreds of people make an impact in our little section of Macmillan.”
When I posted that I was five years clear of treatment, these were some of the replies I got:
“Your posts and updates are such a source of inspiration and hope for the rest of us. It’s so reassuring to have these good outcome stories to lean on in darker moments.”
“Was a sad day when you were diagnosed, my friend, but a very fortuitous one for The Community. Your contributions are always concise, caring, informed and empathetic. It would be impossible to count the times you’ve calmed a startled newbie (is oldie a thing?).”
Everybody’s journey through diagnosis, treatment, and recovery is different, but my advice has always been to take somebody in with you initially, to be an extra pair of ears. Take pen and paper and don’t leave until you understand everything that has been discussed.
Do as your team tells you. They are good at what they do and they have seen hundreds of patients before you.
Trust your body but listen to it and don’t be brave in the face of pain. Ask for help and take it. Have faith that this disease responds really well to treatment that cures most of us.
Recovery is a marathon, not a sprint, and life is good afterwards.
Thank you Beesuit, for taking the time to share some of your experiences and valuable insights.
The journey through cancer is undeniably challenging. The online Community is here for you, with support and wisdom from those who have walked the path before. Remember, you are not alone, and there is always support available within our Community.
If you would like to join the Community, please click here. You can also email community@macmillan.org.uk if you have any questions for the Online Community team.
