As part of Macmillan’s work with farming and rural communities the Online Community team have been working with The Farming Communities Network (FCN).
Macmillan are committed to making cancer care fairer for everyone. This includes making sure that everyone has access to the right cancer support and encouraging people to seek help sooner.
We want to make sure that the support available in our Online Community reaches people in farming and rural communities. To start the conversation, we have asked people from Farming Community Network what they wish they had known when they have been affected by cancer.
“For many people, speaking with other farmers can be especially valuable — they understand the unique pressures, worries, and practical challenges that come with farming life in a way few others can. Sometimes a friendly face and talking with someone who knows the world you’re living in can make all the difference.” – FCN member
We know that being diagnosed with cancer can offer unique challenges for farmers. We want to get the conversation started, so that people from the farming community can connect with others to share experiences and support.
Members of the FCN have offered advice based on their experience of being diagnosed with cancer as a farmer.
"Accept offers of help, even if only for a short time"
"Where possible, share responsibilities with family members or trusted workers"
"Look at ways to reduce workloads temporarily, such as reducing stock numbers or using contractors"
"Consider contingencies you might make / have an emergency folder prepared in case for any reason you are unable to work for a time"
"Create some written instructions for daily routines - using whiteboards, shared calendars, or simple checklists to keep everyone aligned"
"Think about access to systems that are vital to the day to day running of the farm, e.g. log in details or who has permission to communicate with authorities such as the bank and Rural Payments Agency (RPA) or Rural Payments Wales (RPW)"
We know how important it is for people to find information that is relevant to them. The Online Community can help by connecting farmers with others facing similar experiences. Farmers from the FCN have offered their tips on going through treatment for cancer.
"Some treatments can cause you to be fatigued. Tiredness can increase the risk of accidents, especially when working with machinery or livestock. Don’t take on too much or push yourself too hard."
"Infection and biosecurity awareness Farms can carry a higher exposure to bacteria, dust, and animal-borne infections. If your immune system is affected, small precautions can make a big difference. Some cancer treatments lower immunity. You may wish to ask your healthcare team whether this applies to you. "
"You might also consider limiting contact with sick or newborn animals; avoiding exposure to slurry, manure, and dust , planning alternatives for higher-risk tasks during treatment , planning your work around treatment."
"Once in a cycle you may get to know which days you will feel best and when you may start to feel side effects · depending on your treatment, you may require medical devices to be in situ, such as cannulas or catheters. Chat through these options with your clinician and be open and honest about your work, particularly if you are working with livestock or carry out heavy lifting. Sharing this information helps them support your safety and treatment effectively"
"Infection and safety During treatment: · wash hands thoroughly after farm work · change clothes and footwear before hospital visits · avoid assisting with lambing or calving if advised · clean cuts and wounds promptly · avoid exposure to potentially infectious situations · Contact your healthcare team immediately if you develop signs of infection, such as a fever. It is advisable to have an accurate thermometer at home to check your temperature."
"You may also wish to: · avoid working alone where possible · reduce tasks that require strength, balance, or long periods of concentration · be honest with yourself as to whether you really feel able to safely carry out tasks on the farm. Treatments and side effects are varied and can affect you in many ways."
"Return to farm work gradually. Recovery is different for everyone. You may find it helpful to build up activity slowly and review safety and biosecurity as your strength returns. It will take time to adjust, and you may have to change things or get new pieces of equipment, for example a change of handling systems to make life easier."
A big thank you to everyone from the FCN who contributed to this blog.
We hope that the advice offered has been helpful. We'd like to keep the conversation going, so you can connect with others who understand some of the challenges you might be facing.
We have created a dedicated conversation thread in our Cancer Chat forum for farmers. You can find it here.
