Community News - Macmillan Online Community

The cost of cancer - need help with transport and parking fees?

This new miniseries about the additional costs a cancer diagnosis can cause, is highlighting a few of the most common concerns members of the Online Community talk about in our forums. We know that cancer can have an impact on your finances and we often see members talking about the cost of transport and parking when attending hospital appointments. If this is something you are concerned about, hopefully you’ll find the information in this blog helpful. Some people need to travel a long distance for hospital appointments which can cause a lot of worry when it comes to arranging how you will get there. Arranging your own transport arrangements can feel overwhelming especially when looking at the cost involved with parking, fuel or public transport. Even if you aren't travelling far, these…

Megan- Online Community Team
Sex and cancer uncovered – your needs are worth talking about!

Mentioning the Unmentionable If you ask the average person about what part sex and intimacy plays in their life, it wouldn’t be unusual to see them curl up like a pretzel with embarrassment. Despite being the most natural and healthy thing in the world, it’s a topic often relegated to the ‘unmentionable’ pile. Although sex and intimacy are a fundamental part of the human experience, the topic seems to inspire a unique level of shame when trying to talk about it openly. Unlike talking about our favourite foods or our preferred sleep routine, talking about sex can lead to red faces, giggles, and a desperate effort to escape the discussion completely. For someone affected by a cancer diagnosis, the topic becomes vastly more complex. It isn’t just the social taboo of sex usually being a highly…

Matthew - Online Community Team
What Community members wished they had known before surgery

In the latest of our new series of blogs sharing hints and tips from members, we asked members of the Online Community, "What do you wish you had known before you had surgery?" Members shared personal experiences alongside the questions they asked, practical tips and some reassuring messages. This blog features conversations about a range of different surgeries that may be relevant to you. There is also some general advice to help you prepare for surgery and appointments. Click on the blog headings to help you navigate the different sections in the blog. Table of Contents Being prepared and recovery Hysterectomy TURP surgery Tracheostomy, Laryngectomy and bypass tube Thyroid surgery Cystoscopy Laparoscopic anterior resection Breast cancer surgery Skin cancer surgery…

Megan- Online Community Team
Cancer & me 35 years on - Metastases and radiotherapy

Sketch, and all other artwork, by Willo Today we are back with the next instalment of Willo’s blog, ‘Cancer & me 35 years on’ . Willo was diagnosed with Anal cancer in 1986 while living in Zambia. In this blog series Willo has been sharing her experience of living through and beyond cancer. Alongside sharing everything she has been through, Willo has also been sharing the amazing artwork she created during this time in her life. From talking about how she moved back to England after her diagnosis to start treatment , to sharing her experience of going back to art school after her colostomy surgery, Willo has shared with us her whole journey in the hope that it will help others to read about what she has been through. As one Community member commented after reading Willo’s blog, ‘ 35 years…

Former Member
Waiting for results and dealing with the unknown

We know from our members that the waiting and uncertainty around test results and worrying symptoms can be one of the hardest things to deal with. "The waiting really is the worst part" Xxnataliexx "If you read the posts for all the ladies of this forum, we all agree, that the hardest thing is the waiting between tests and results and worrying." MrsBJH The coronavirus pandemic has unfortunately had a big impact on diagnosis and treatment for people affected by cancer. This has made waiting times longer, and unfortunately for some people the anxiety that comes with it is extended too. "I was due to have a liver resection at Addenbrookes but learnt today that they have stopped, for covid, all liver cancer surgery." Elley019 For concerns around cancer and covid-19, you can find Macmillan…

Tom C - Online Community team
Meet Amy - Finding a way to move towards acceptance and peace.

Amy, diagnosed with ovarian cancer. When you or a loved one are diagnosed with cancer, it can be a massive shock. It can mean having to deal with issues and situations which cause worry and anxiety. You may feel fearful about the future and not kno w where to turn. In the latest guest blog series, we’ll be meeting Amy, known on the site as , who struggled with her emotions after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Amy has used her experience to create her own blog to help others manage their mental health through can cer. Amy told me that she remembers feeling terrified, despair and hopelessness and describes the turmoil she felt inside; “Being positive didn’t feel right for me. It felt like denial.” “When I was diagnosed with cancer it was a pretty terrifying time. I experienced…

Steph - Online Community Team
Stoma series: tips from others living with a stoma

In the first part of the Stoma series , there was lots of reassurance offered in the different discussions and information of how to find further support. In this blog, we’re highlighting some of the practical tips that our members have shared to manage their stoma. It’s natural to have questions about stoma care and the Online Community has supportive spaces to get guidance from others who are also living with a stoma. “It’s very early days for you and it’s great you’ve found this group. There’s so many experts in managing a stoma here and I have found great tips. My Stoma nurses were amazing and really got me sorted with the right products and advice.” Community member, Bowel (colon and rectal cancer forum), ‘ rectal cancer’ discussion thread “So pleased I’ve found this group. I had…

Megan- Online Community Team
Here's what you need to know - Community Improvements

On Tuesday 29 th June, we’ll be releasing the first of our improvements into the Community. You can read more below about how this will affect the site on Tuesday afternoon, and what changes you’ll see once the release has been done. On May 5 th , we attempted to go live with these changes. Unfortunately, we encountered some unforeseen issues which meant we weren’t able to go live at that time. Since then, we’ve been working really hard behind the scenes to get this right. We hope you feel the benefit from the first of our improvements soon, and we'd love to hear any feedback you have for us about these changes. Key information The release will happen on Tuesday 29 th June. The Community will be ‘down’ between 1pm – 4.30pm. This means you won’t be able to view, or log in to the site…

Ellen - Macmillan
Talking about grief

Photo by David Today we are back with our 5th instalment of our Bereavement series. The aim of this series is to try to shine a light on important issues facing those who have lost a loved one to cancer, and remind everyone that the Community is a safe space where we welcome any conversations about grief and bereavement. But why is it important to talk about grief and how we are coping after the death of a loved one? And do we all need to be more open about what we go through when we are grieving? Today we will explore this further and look at the different ways of accessing support. Why is it hard to talk? Talking about grief can be really difficult, it can be hard for both those who are grieving, and those who are supporting them. For those who are grieving, you may worry that…

Former Member
News from the Community Team - Our new Notification Button

Hi everyone, We thought we would use today's Community News Blog to communicate an exciting new development on the Community. You may have already noticed this on your profile, but you should now be able to see a button labelled ‘Notifications’ when you log into the Community. This is our new notification button. This means that anytime anyone interacts with you on the Community a number will appear next to this icon and when you click on it the interaction will be shown. This is also known as ‘live alerts’. "...it’s easier for everyone to have all their notifications in one place..." We have been working on this so that it’s easier for everyone to have all their notifications in one place and you can see clearly who has responded to your posts and interacted with you on the site. …

Former Member
What’s it all for anyway?

There are certain events in life that can really make you question the meaning of it all. Why do we fight so hard to go swimming in one direction just to have the tide change and drop us in waters we never planned for, miles away from where we thought we were going. The fear caused by uncertainty and the unknown can be powerful and paralysing, but that’s not necessarily the end of the story. “ in my times of uncertainty this community has been a saving grace for me. I want you to know you are not alone.” – BeeWise02 - original post Image description: a vast body of water, vibrant with colours created by the sun behind clouds. Often those dealing with the most can be the most inspiring. The strength and depth of character displayed by those affected by cancer, in times of uncertainty…

Tom C - Online Community team
"I am just persevering" - Shaun's story

This week, we’re sharing Shaun’s journey with cancer, in his own words. You can also read his wife Janet’s story on Community news here . In November 2019, I had two of my upper teeth taken out at my dentist. In the following days I noticed a swelling in my neck so I went to the doctors where I was given antibiotics. After a week of these there was no difference so I was given another course. A week later I went to the doctors who sent me straight to A&E. At A&E, I was given an x-ray and another course of antibiotics and told that I would need a scan in the next couple of days. Within four days I was at hospital where a scan was done and three samples taken from my neck. I was told I would get the results in a week's time. Within three days I had an appointment. Both myself…

Eliza -Online Community Team