Community News - Macmillan Online Community

Meet Kirsty, diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024 alongside an existing health condition

May we introduce you to Kirsty, who is here to share her story about coping with a breast cancer diagnosis alongside other long-term health issues. Kirsty described living under the shadow of acute Ulcerative Colitis for 21 years before finding a lump in her breast last April. In Kirsty's story, she describes with candid honesty and humour how she dealt with tests for cancer whilst managing relationships with her loved ones. In this first of two blogs telling Kirsty's story, you will hear Kirsty's experience as she told it to us. "I thought that I had been given my slice of bad luck with my health until last year. On April 28th I found a lump in my left boob whilst in the shower. My sister had had breast cancer 3 years previously, so I had taken to regularly checking my own and thank…

Steph - Online Community Team
Awake and up all night? Get emotional support around the clock!

Trouble sleeping? Receiving news of a cancer diagnosis can often trigger a time of great uncertainty. Whether the diagnosis is for yourself or a loved one, it is often accompanied by feelings of dread, sadness, and anxiety. Those negative emotions can significantly impact your ability to concentrate during the day and relax at night. Similarly, cancer treatments and the side-effects of various drugs can have an impact on finding restful sleep. During the day, there are usually plenty of commitments to take up your time, and plenty of people around who might need your attention. Be it in your own home, at a place of work, or perhaps at a medical appointment – there are no shortage of distractions. But what happens toward the end of the day? Maybe your friends have gone home. Family members…

Matthew - Online Community Team
Dealing with Fear and Anxiety during Cancer Treatment

In this blog, one of our Community Champions Jane is sharing some of the emotions she felt whilst having treatment and some of the strategies she used to help cope with the uncertainty. Jane was diagnosed and treated for endometrial carcinoma sarcoma in 2022. She underwent surgery, chemotherapy and external beam radiotherapy. She became a Community Champion to support others who face cancer whether themselves or a loved one. She regularly supports others through the Online Community, reviewing content and by writing about her experiences. Having a diagnosis of cancer can make things feel overwhelming and out of control and it is normal to feel anxious about what lies ahead. Along with support from family and friends, that the peer support that can be found through Macmillan’s Online Community…

Megan- Online Community Team
“Grief comes in waves”: Coping with the loss of a partner

Many Community News readers may have followed Wee Mee ’s story. Community Champion Wee Me has written several articles about her experiences as a carer for her husband , who was diagnosed with a Glioblastoma brain tumour in September 2020. In today’s blog, Wee Me is sharing a very personal look at her experience and thoughts about loss and bereavement. “I have chosen to view life over the past nine months since G peacefully passed away as a time to heal rather than a time to grieve.” It’s been a while since I last wrote a Community blog. The topic for this one has been on my mind for a while but I couldn’t find the right words to articulate my thoughts. As many of you know, I supported my late husband G through the three years of his Glioblastoma journey. Any cancer journey is tough…

Eliza -Online Community Team
Mental health and cancer: Tips and support for your wellbeing

Living with cancer can have a significant impact on your mental health. This Saturday 10 October is World Mental Health Day 2026 . In this blog, we're sharing experiences and advice from members of the Online Community about coping with the emotional effects of cancer, and where to find support when it's needed most. Ways to support your mental health when living with cancer Having conversations about mental health can make such a difference. Being able to put into words how you’re feeling, knowing that someone is there to listen, and hearing from others who may have experienced something similar can help us feel less alone. For people living with cancer, as well as those caring for a loved one with cancer, looking after your mental health can be particularly important. A cancer diagnosis…

Lizzie - Online Community Team
Neurodivergence and Cancer: Alison's Story

On being a "pepper pot "carer with cancer. In the Spring of 2016, I was diagnosed with myeloma, a type of blood cancer. I had not heard of this type of cancer. I was told it was incurable but treatable. I was 56. An article I read by someone who is living with blood cancer (and was much younger than myself at the time of their diagnosis) said that their diagnosis felt like their life had been hit by a wrecking ball. For me these words describe perfectly how I felt. The shock was enormous. I had been a carer all my life, from caring for a younger sibling with special needs whilst I was growing up, to working in a caring profession, to caring for my son who is autistic. In my own head, I had never envisaged a time when I would not be able to care for someone who relied on me. The diagnosis…

Emma - Online Community Team
Our Community Champions - "the 'glue' that binds us all together!"

Volunteers Week takes place from 1st to 7th June 2026. This blog celebrates the dedication, commitment, and valued contributions that our wonderful Online Community Champions make to the Community each and every day. Who are our Online Community Champions? Over the past year, our Community Champions have contributed more than 13,242 posts, reflecting the ongoing kindness, encouragement, and support they provide to other members every day. A huge thank you to: chris2012 , rily , src60 , Thehighlander , latchbrook , lesleyhelen , Nikki65 , Beesuit , chellesimo , Irishgirl16 , WeeMe , Daisy53 , SarahH21 , Kasvin , jane2511 , Millibob , excavator , Coddfish , Jamie696 Words of appreciation from Community members “Thank you to all the Community Champions! They are the 'glue' that binds…

Wayne - Online Community Team
Bringing the Community together - virtual coffee morning

September is the hallmark month for Macmillan’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning. This year is the 35th year anniversary of the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning which continues to make a difference to support everyone affected by cancer. 35 years of coming together to raise vital funds so Macmillan can be there to support people when they need us the most. It’s also 35 years of bringing people together to talk about cancer. Whilst coffee mornings are a great way to fundraise, it’s also a good opportunity to raise awareness and share personal cancer experiences. The Online Community brings the cancer community together every day. Our forums provide peer to peer support all day and all night helping you navigate the emotional and practical challenges cancer can bring. "Thank you to everyone…

Megan- Online Community Team
An update to our Online Community email notifications

Hi everyone, We just wanted to let you know about a change to the way our email notifications work. Previously, if you opted to receive email notifications about new posts or Private Messages, a preview of the content would be included in the email. In order to comply with the UK's new Online Safety Act , our website has now been updated to remove message preview content from all notification emails. Although this does mean you will need to check the Online Community directly in order to read the actual contents of new messages or thread replies, it also means users are protected from receiving copies of potentially upsetting posts which may have been subsequently removed from public view. We hope you can appreciate the reasons behind why had to update the way notification emails work. If…

Moderator - Macmillan Community
Getting support when living alone with cancer

Having a cancer diagnosis can affect every aspect of someone’s life. Living alone with cancer leaves many people with added obstacles to getting the support they need. Whether this is physical support and care, to help with daily tasks, or emotional support and guidance through the most challenging of times. The Online Community is here for anyone affected by cancer to find support from people who understand. Recently, we asked members of the Community about their experiences of living alone with cancer , the challenges they face and how they have coped or adapted to these challenges. This blog brings together what they have shared with some added information that we hope you find useful. Emotional effects of living alone with cancer Members spoke about the emotional challenges faced…

Wayne - Online Community Team
Supporting yourself while supporting someone with incurable cancer (Part 2)

A loved one’s cancer diagnosis can have just as large an impact as a personal diagnosis. Our Cancer Information and Support Advisor, Jenna, is here to talk through some of the complicated emotions you might feel, and ways you can help yourself cope. If you missed the Jenna’s first blog post, you can read it here . In Part 1 of this blog series, I talked through the huge emotional impact coping with the incurable diagnosis of a loved one can have. We discussed the importance of being gentle with yourself and listening to your emotions to help you understand what you need. In Part 2, I hope to share some ways to support yourself through what can be such a difficult time. Just as everyone’s emotional response is individual, what each person needs to help them find their way through is also…

Eliza -Online Community Team
Spending Christmas without a loved one

At a time of year where we want to rejoice with our loved ones, sadly there are many different reasons why this may not be possible. This may be your first Christmas without a friend or family member, and there may be additional restrictions in place which means this festive period will be very different for you. However you are spending Christmas this year, we hope you can still find some peaceful moments. “This Christmas is going to be a very different one, so don't even try and compare it to others, you need to take care of yourself” AT7 , Reality hits and it hurts blog "I had planned a busy Christmas with a number of changes, but the government have put paid to that! I wonder how many others will struggle more because of this? I have a feeling it could be a long few days with too…

Megan- Online Community Team