What were the moments of support that mattered to you?

1 minute read time.
What were the moments of support that mattered to you?

Cancer is one of the toughest things someone can go through. When cancer shows up, silence often follows. This is something Community members have called Cancer ghosting, and we explore this experience more in the Cancer ghosting blog.

People living with cancer tell us they don't want to be a burden but still need emotional and practical support from their loved ones. Sometimes friends, family and colleagues can struggle to find the right words to say and not know how to best support you. 

What supportive moments made a difference to you?

We are asking you what your family and friends have done to show they care and be supportive.

  • Was it stopping by with warm meals?
  • Meeting up with them once a week for a cuppa and a chat about life beyond cancer? 
  • Care packages of things to help you deal with side effects?

No matter how small or thoughtful the moments of support may be, sharing meaningful acts of kindness can offer useful suggestions to those who want to help but may not know how.

Join the 'What supportive moments mattered to you? discussion in the Cancer chat forum to tell us more. 

No matter how small or thoughtful the moments of support may be, sharing the meaningful acts of kindness may provide some useful ideas to those who want to help, but may not know how.

Madiso
  • My partner (Caroline) always by my side and with me at every appointment.I would be lost without her.

  • I am so terrified. IT all started with a gastric bleed in May then my FIT test came back positive. Then they did a colonoscopy where they removed 5 polyps. One of which was a NET rectum. They said it’s grade 2 but can be higher, 

    how are you now? 

  • Thanks for sharing  . Having loved ones by ones side can have such a big impact!

  • Hi  ,

    My name is Emma and I’m from Macmillan’s Online Community Team. I’d like to wish you another very warm welcome to the site.

    I am sorry to read you are feeling terrified.  I hope you will find the community a helpful place to speak with other people, share similar experiences, and to have access to that peer support whenever they need it. 

    It may be worth posting about your experience in one of the following forums to connect with others who have been where you are now:

    Additionally, please know our Macmillan Support Line is also there if you want to talk things through with someone. Our Support Line teams are available 7 days a week, 8am-8pm on freephone 0808 808 00 00 for advice, emotional support or even just a listening ear. If you would rather speak to them via message, you can also do so via live webchat. 

    Take care,

    Emma

  • The greatest moment of support was from Macmillan nurse...she knew exactly how I was feeling, I am looking after my ninety year old mother, coping with two separate cancers at the same time and feeling I just wanted to jack it all in...a few well placed words from her and I no longer felt the feelings that were weighing down on me were unusual or out of place ...amazing how the light switched on when I could see in writing how I felt but had no words to describe it.  Saved my life.  It was like unknotting a tightly wound ball of string.