Community News - Macmillan Online Community

Disability Pride Month

Are you living with a disability following cancer treatment? Support is available. July is Disability Pride Month, a time to celebrate disabled people, challenge stigma and recognise the diversity of disabled experiences. It is also an opportunity to acknowledge that for many people affected by cancer, the impact of cancer does not end when treatment finishes. For some people, cancer can lead to a disability or long-term health condition. Others may have been disabled before their cancer diagnosis and find that cancer adds new challenges to navigate. While some people recover from treatment and can regain much of their abilities as before, others continue to experience long-term or permanent effects of cancer and its treatment. These can include fatigue, pain, mobility issues, cognitive…

Emma - Online Community Team
Gentle exercise and staying active with Cancer

Being active during and after cancer treatment can offer a lot of benefits, both physically and mentally. Physical activity can improve your emotional well-being and help reduce anxiety and depression. It can also reduce your tiredness and increase your confidence. Physical benefits include: Heart health Strengthens your muscles Bone health Improves your balance Increased your flexibility and helps with stiffness It is usually safe to start doing some physical activity during or after treatment. Here is how to get started safely: Talk to your team: Ask your Oncologist, specialist nurse, or GP what activity they recommend and for any advice on how to proceed. Listen to your body: Activity is encouraged, but certain treatments mean adjusting your limits or types of exercise…

Wayne - Online Community Team
Share your summer

There are lots of conversations about cancer in the forums, but sometimes you may feel the need for some light relief from talking about appointments, treatment and the emotional effects of cancer. Signs of summer are around us at the moment, and we have created a space for you to share your summer activities and plans. We have set up the Share your summer discussion thread in the Express Yourself forum. This discussion thread is similar to the ‘Bring your Spring’ space, but with a summer twist. We'd love to see what summer looks like for you. Whether it's colourful flowers in bloom, a favourite walk, a day out, your garden, pets enjoying the sunshine, artwork, crafts, photography, or simply something that captures the feeling of the season, we'd love for you to share it with the Community…

Megan- Online Community Team
Wellbeing Wednesday - Men's Health Week 2026 and opening up conversations about cancer

This Wellbeing Wednesday blog focuses on Men’s Health Week in 2026 which runs from 15-21 June. At Macmillan, we’re using the opportunity to help raise awareness of the importance of men talking about their health and finding the right cancer support. We know that men are less likely than women to seek support for their cancer experience. We also know how isolating cancer can be. And that whoever you are, there are benefits of talking to someone who understands what you are going through. We want to make cancer support better for everyone. Whether you are a man with a cancer diagnosis, or a man supporting a loved one with cancer, the Community is here for you. Men living with cancer and sharing support on Macmillan's Online Community "I’ve spent the last 5 days a nervous wreck convincing…

Steph - Online Community Team
Improvements to the Online Community search function

Finding the right support The Online Community is packed full of useful information and relatable experiences. Over the years, tens of thousands of members have shared their thoughts, worries, and words of comfort with each other. With such a large amount of support content available, finding the discussions most relevant to you requires the use of a powerful search function. Starting a new search On every page of the Online Community, in the top-left corner you will see the ‘Search’ button depicted by a magnifying glass icon. Tap on the search button to enter search mode. Tap inside the search box and type in a term you’d like to search the Online Community for. Tap the magnifying glass button to begin the search. Filtering results After tapping Search, you will find yourself…

Matthew - Online Community Team
Are you LGBTQIA+ and living with cancer?

Have you ever felt like parts of your identity or experience were not fully understood during your cancer journey? While everyone’s experience is different, Macmillan recognises that LGBTQIA+ people can face additional barriers across the cancer pathway. Alongside treatment, appointments and recovery, many people also navigate questions about identity, and how to communicate needs to others. Some challenges LGBTQIA+ people face: Worrying if healthcare professionals will understand and respect your relationships or family structure. Having to repeatedly explain pronouns, names, identities or family structures during treatment. Feeling uncomfortable correcting assumptions about gender identity or sexual orientation during appointments. Worrying if partners, chosen family…

Emma - Online Community Team
Carers Week - Are you supporting someone living with cancer?

This week is Carers Week. It is a time to recognise the important role carers play in supporting loved ones through cancer and to highlight the support available to them. We know that caring for someone with cancer can be both rewarding and difficult. It can bring many feelings and challenges, and it is not always easy to know where to find help and support. At Macmillan, we want to help people understand the experiences and challenges carers can face. In this blog, we share some of the support and information available in the Online Community, where carers, family members and friends can connect with others, share experiences, and find support from people who understand. So, what challenges do carers face? Many carers find themselves juggling multiple responsibilities, including work…

Lizzie - Online Community Team
It’s National Inclusion Week!

Have you ever felt that your identity, background or the way you experience the world has affected your cancer journey? National Inclusion Week is an opportunity to think about what inclusion means for people affected by cancer. Cancer can affect anyone, but the experience of diagnosis, treatment and recovery isn’t the same for everyone. For some people, their identity or circumstances can bring additional challenges when accessing information, treatment or support. At Macmillan, we want everyone affected by cancer to feel that there is space for them. That’s why Macmillan's Online Community has dedicated spaces where people from different communities can connect with those who understand the challenges they face. Here are three examples: LGBTQIA+ people and cancer Many LGBTQIA…

Emma - Online Community Team
Blogging on the Online Community

Have you set up a blog and need help managing this? Have you been thinking about setting up your own blog but not sure how? We wanted to let you know there is step by step information and video tutorials to help you. In our Help Pages, the ‘ Blogs ’ section has step-by-step instructions and short video tutorials to help you set up your blog. Recently, we have added a new page to help you manage your blog. This includes easy access to revisiting your blog and how to manage your blog post drafts if you are still editing them. New help page: How to manage your blog What is a blog? A blog is used to help someone diarise their experiences. Setting up a blog is like creating a virtual book, where you can add blog posts like pages of the book. Blogging can be a helpful way to express your…

Megan- Online Community Team
Male breast cancer: David's story and support

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month . This is a time to raise awareness of breast cancer, encourage people to know the signs and symptoms, and remind everyone of the importance of seeking medical advice when something doesn’t feel right. When we think about breast cancer, it is often associated with women. But breast cancer can affect men too. Male breast cancer is rare, but around 375 men are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK each year. You may have recently seen male breast cancer brought into the spotlight on Coronation Street, where one of the show’s male characters is diagnosed with breast cancer.  Macmillan Cancer Support has partnered with ITV’s  Coronation Street  to help bring this important issue to the forefront, using the storyline as an opportunity to raise awareness…

Lizzie - Online Community Team
Cancer during pregnancy: finding support and sharing your story

Note: This content was originally written by Steph - Online Community Team in 2022. To mark World Breastfeeding Awareness Week 2026, it has been updated to include more recent Community content and links to further support information. A cancer diagnosis can be upsetting. If you’re pregnant when diagnosed with cancer it can be even more frightening and confusing. You might feel you need additional support as you receive your cancer diagnosis, navigate treatment options and cancer treatment. The Community is here to support you, in addition to a wide range of help available from Macmillan and other support providers. Members of the Community might also be supporting a loved one with cancer at the same time as going through a pregnancy. Or perhaps you are coping with your own cancer diagnosis…

Matthew - Online Community Team
Travel Insurance and Cancer - your questions answered by an expert

The importance of getting the right cover Are you planning on taking a holiday this year? Perhaps you're looking for a little extra summer sun? Or maybe a winter escape for when the weather turns chilly? Whatever you're planning, there are some travel essentials that no holidaymaker should leave home without. Packing the right travel documents, currency, and clothing for your trip is very important. But what about your insurance? Have you checked your travel insurance plan covers your specific holiday itinerary? Does it cover your specific health needs? If you or someone you're traveling with has a cancer diagnosis, it is vital you have the insurance cover to match. Meet Fiona This is Fiona. She loves to travel. Fiona has first-hand experience of what it's like to be impacted by…

Matthew - Online Community Team