Community News - Macmillan Online Community

Dealing with Change

The emotional effects of dealing with change and cancer are something that is often talked about by our members. “This is so hard and I get frustrated with all the conflicting emotions, whether the changes I'm making are right or wrong and if Nic would approve of what I'm doing. I have a lot of support from friends and family, but am feeling very lost at the moment and can't say this to anybody apart from you lovely people on this site as only you truly understand what it's like.” - Community member, bereaved spouses and partner forum. “Feeling very emotional about it all, it’s all flooding back, not even sure I have whilst accepted what’s happed to me in the past 12 months, mixed bag of feelings tonight and not quite sure what to do with myself.” - Community member, Breast cancer forum…

Tom C - Online Community team
Supporting a Loved One Through Cancer Treatment

We often see conversations around cancer treatment on the Online Community. It can be concerns around treatment decisions for family members or other loved ones, dealing with side effects, or simply looking for emotional support and support groups. We know these situations can be a difficult time for people affected by cancer. However you want to talk about cancer treatment, we’re here to listen. “Today is an ok day. Just popping in to say hi, and express my gratitude to the existence of this forum.” Online Community member, Ovarian cancer forum "Thank you so much, your reply has really lifted me, it’s really helpful to hear from people who are going through it. Very grateful to have found this forum xx" Online Community member, Cervical cancer forum Making Treatment decisions We know from…

Tom C - Online Community team
Have you tried expressing yourself? Creativity and coping with member Wee Me

Creativity can be a helpful tool to find comfort and support. For Community member and Macmillan volunteer Wee Me, the Online Community’s “Express yourself” group and taking the time to be creative has been invaluable throughout her experience with cancer. Wee Me’s husband was diagnosed with a Glioblastoma brain tumour in September 2020. Wee Me has shared her story on Community News. 6-12 June 2022 is Carers Week , and the theme this year is ‘'Make caring visible, valued and supported'. Writing and journaling have helped Wee Me to feel seen and supported. Today, Wee Me is here to talk about how you could give being creative a go, with support from the Community. I don’t know if you’ve discovered it yet but there’s a group within the Online Community called Express Yourself . This is a safe…

Eliza -Online Community Team
Helping you rest better

After a few busy festive months, the pressures of New Year's resolutions, and starting the week with Blue Monday, it seems like a good time for some self-care. A big part of self-care can often be making time to rest. Everybody needs some ‘me time’ so why not dedicate some time today to rest, and try one of the suggestions in this blog? What do we mean by resting better and why do we need to do it? Resting and looking after your wellbeing is a skill. It can take time to develop this skill by trying new things and finding what works best for us through trial and error. By doing this, we will become so much better at looking after ourselves as we know what our mind and body need to relax and rest. I'd describe getting better rest as finding and doing something that you enjoy, which will…

Megan- Online Community Team
Help when you’re a helper: Dennis’ story

Dennis’ wife Winnie was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia. Like many people here on the Online Community, Dennis was her carer for many years, alongside looking after their son and family. Dennis struggled with his mental health and found support from Macmillan. After Winnie sadly died, Dennis became a volunteer nine years ago and continues to support other people living with cancer. Today here in Community News, Dennis is sharing his story and experiences as a carer, partner and how he went from needing help, to being the helper. Dennis’ shared his story as video, titled “Help to be a helper”. You can watch Dennis’ video below and hear him share his experiences. Dennis’ video has subtitles. You can also read Dennis’ story within this blog. www.youtube.com/watch Dennis' Story: Help…

Eliza -Online Community Team
Are you looking for some hope?

It can be a challenge to feel hopeful during a difficult time so in today’s blog, we are sharing lots of hope from the Community. Although some members may not feel very hopeful with their personal circumstances, we hope the following will offer some reassurance, inspiration and positivity. “Firstly I want to give you a warm welcome to the group no one WANTS to join but having joined, I hope you listen and read posts and other peoples Profile pages, so you know there is hope.” Community member, Living with incurable cancer forum The word hope was used 1846 times on the Community last month. In a short space of time, it shows how often people come to the Community to find and offer reassurance and hope when facing difficult times. “There is hope I’m still…

Megan- Online Community Team
How to Use the Online Community – Private Messages, Public Forums, and User Blogs

Welcome to the Macmillan Online Community . The Online Community is a place where thousands of people come together to share their cancer experiences, tips, and advice. It’s a place where you can give and receive support with other people who understand just a little bit of what you might be going through. To make sure that you’re settled and getting support as quickly as possible, we’ve put together this short guide to show you what the main features of the site look like, and what you can use them for. When you first arrive on the Home page , you’ll see a box with two options in it: “ Join the Online Community ” and “ Log in .” If you haven’t done so yet, please sign up for a free and anonymous Online Community account by clicking the “ Join ” button. Please note that you will need…

Matthew - Online Community Team
Our 6 tips to manage the NHS if you're struggling - help from Macmillan and the Online Community

Lots of people are worried about pressures on cancer care within the NHS. We know that waiting for results and worries about delayed cancer treatment might affect your general health and wellbeing. Ellen Lang, Clinical Information Manager on the Macmillan Support Line, said: “Every day we’re receiving heart-breaking calls from people with cancer who don’t know where else to turn. They’re frightened about their health, distressed about the rising cost of living and, despite the very best efforts of NHS staff, they're really struggling to access the care and treatment they need. We’ll always be at the end of the phone for people living with cancer, for whatever they need to ask; our helpline is open 8am-8pm 365 days a year for anyone who needs practical, emotional or financial cancer support…

Steph - Online Community Team
Catching up with the ‘Supporting someone with incurable cancer forum’

When a loved one has incurable cancer, it is natural to feel a range of emotions and need some additional support. Our Supporting someone with incurable cancer forum is a safe space for you to talk about the practical and emotional needs you have, alongside connecting with others in a similar situation. If you are looking for some additional support, or want to catch up with the recent activity in the group, this blog will be a helpful source of information. An incurable prognosis can come as a shock and take time to process. During this difficult time, members post about the mixed emotions they feel when coming to terms with their loved one’s diagnosis. You’re not alone if you are struggling, there’s a friendly support network of people coming together to offer a listening ear and guidance…

Megan- Online Community Team
Anxiety and cancer - support from Macmillan's Online Community

Members of the Online Community often talk about experiencing anxiety. This might be following a cancer diagnosis or whilst waiting for a scan or results. Anxiety levels can also increase both before and after cancer treatment. This blog will focus on what the Online Community has shared about managing anxiety and the symptoms of anxiety. We’ll highlight some helpful tips and tools shared by our community members and Macmillan experts who are here to help in our Ask an Expert section . The Online Community is a safe and supportive space where you can be open about your emotions. "Anxiety feels like it’s been my biggest demon, it’s particularly bad when I’m due an appointment with the consultant, even though she’s lovely, my mind wanders, and I talk myself into it being bad news…

Dylan - Online Community Team
Macmillan’s mother tongue project- Della’s story

Introduction Della talks in her mother tongue, Yorùbá, about her diagnosis, how her family responded and some of the stigmas still prominent in her and her family's community. This video is part of Macmillan’s mother tongue project. (4 minutes and 22 seconds). We hope to feature different lived experiences here on the Online Community to represent different ethnic cultures and communities so that nobody feels they are facing cancer alone. Please see an English transcript written below. There are also English subtitles available when watching the video. For additional support information in other languages, scroll to the end of this blog page. Transcript Della : They were wondering where I got this illness from, because “black people don’t get this illness”. It’s seen as a…

Megan- Online Community Team
Help to Overcome Problems Effectively. Accessing the HOPE course through Macmillan – Wellspring’s story.

It’s normal to feel lots of different emotions when you finish cancer treatment. Macmillan are here to help. The Online Community is a place where you can share experiences and peer support with people going through the same thing. In addition to the Community, you might be looking for further support so you can feel more like yourself again. In today’s Community News Blog, our Online Community member Wellspring shares their experience of HOPE. HOPE, which stands for ‘ Help to Overcome Problems Effectively ’, is a course developed by Coventry University and Macmillan Cancer Support to help people who have had or have cancer to get on with their lives. We will now hand over to Wellspring to tell you all about their experience. “It was winter 2019. 12 months experiencing 6 rounds of FOLFOX…

Steph - Online Community Team