Community News - Macmillan Online Community

Exercise and cancer: Questions and Advice from the Online Community

Physical activity plays a crucial role in the lives of those affected by cancer, whether you are currently facing a cancer diagnosis or undergoing treatment. In this blog, we’ll highlight some of the questions asked and advice given in our Online Community. Give it time and take it slow It can be tempting to get moving too quickly post-op, specifically once you start feeling better and with renewed energy. In a post-op scenario, one Community member was eager to get back on his Ducati, motorbike. He reached out to the Community for some advice. “Ok, it's now 7 days since my operation. I just wanted your thoughts on keeping fit. I'm busting to get out on my Ducati.” Community Member, Prostate cancer forum A few members of the forum were quick to reply with some…

Dylan - Online Community Team
How a cancer diagnosis is communicated – your experiences with online test results

The following blog is posted on behalf of John N - Macmillan . John is one of our Service Knowledge Specialists working to deliver best practice within the Macmillan Nurses team. In today’s blog, John is looking at the rise in NHS hospitals delivering cancer test results online, as well as the impact new services like this can have on patients. At the end, he’ll be asking for you to share your experiences with any of the topics mentioned in this blog. How much information do you want? Finding out that you have cancer can be a shock, even if the cancer diagnosis was strongly suspected. Some people try to learn as much as possible about their diagnosis. Being informed can help when talking to medical teams or telling family and friends. It can also help people feel involved in their care…

Matthew - Online Community Team
Finding support for stoma reversal and LARS on the Online Community

The Ileostomy, colostomy and stoma support group on the Online Community is a place where members can support one another through surgery, managing a stoma , diet tips and keeping comfortable. Following surgery for bowel cancer , colorectal cancers , other cancers and pre-cancerous conditions, some members have a permanent stoma , others may have been offered a temporary stoma . When you have a temporary stoma, you might be offered a stoma reversal. Members recently asked if we could provide a dedicated space for conversations around stoma reversal and Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS). We’ve responded by adding a new forum to the Ileostomy, colostomy and stoma support group called the Stoma reversal and Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS) forum. The new forum which you can find…

Steph - Online Community Team
Thanks to you, our Community members and Community Champions.

https://youtu.be/kWX6g1XCjWc Today is Macmillan Cancer Support’s thanks to you day and this Community News Blog is dedicated to you, the Online Community members and our amazing Community Champions. Macmillan are sharing a video of thanks to everyone who supports us, or who helps Macmillan support others. You can watch it by clicking play on the video above. Feel free to share this blog and our thank you video on your own social media accounts. On behalf of the Community team, we wanted to say a big thank you to you all for the support you share with each other across the Community. With your support, Macmillan can be there for more of the three million people living with cancer in the UK, their family and friends. We are a Community of over 90,000 members affected by cancer. We support…

Steph - Online Community Team
Spotlight on our supportive Bladder cancer forum ahead of Bladder Cancer Awareness Month in May

May will be Bladder cancer awareness month and there is lots of information and support available from Macmillan. Ahead of the start of the month, we are taking this opportunity to highlight some of the bladder cancer support available here on the Online Community. We are catching up with our Bladder cancer form and sharing how the members support each other every day of the year. If you have bladder cancer, or know someone who has, our online support group is here for you as long as you need us. Testing, diagnosis and waiting for results If you have been referred for further tests following signs or symptoms of bladder cancer , it can be a very worrying time. Waiting for results can often be a time when you need a lot of support, as it can be difficult to think of anything else…

Steph - Online Community Team
“AI is a really useful tool if used correctly.”

Advances in technology means Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being tried and tested to improve the way we live our lives. Some people use online AI tools to find information. From finding opening times for shops and looking for travel information when planning a trip. When it comes to cancer care, there is lots of information AI can provide, but do you know what information can be trusted? In this blog, we explore how Community members have used Artificial intelligence, and how AI is being used in cancer care. What is AI? Artificial intelligence (AI) is technology that helps computers perform a variety of tasks in ways that used to require human intelligence. From understanding language, analysing data, and even providing information. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is both part of the problem…

Megan- Online Community Team
All the details you need for the upcoming improvements

After the ‘ Look out for our improvements’ blog we posted last week, we wanted to give you some more information about our upcoming improvements and all the details you need to know about when these new features are going live. Once the improvements go live later this week, the following information in this blog should help show you how to make the most of some of the new exciting functions we are introducing. Don’t worry, we’ll also be updating our Help pages with some step by step guidance should you need a helping hand. When will these new improvements go live on the site? We are hoping that our improvements will be finished and ready for our members to use by 10pm on Thursday 10th of March 2022 . In order for us to bring you these improvements however, there will be some scheduled…

Megan- Online Community Team
Head and neck cancer - when food is fuel

We know that receiving a cancer diagnosis can be scary, especially when you don’t know what to expect. Members in the Community have been there. They can help you to face those worries. Through shared experiences, they can help you face the unknown and make you feel much less alone. In this Community New Blog, we’re highlighting the head and neck cancer group and some of the issues members face through treatment and beyond. We’ll be focusing on eating problems, maintaining weight through treatment and staying as healthy as you can. Many members come to the Community looking for support with eating the right foods through treatment and dealing with side effects. "End of week 3 and taste buds have gone. Does anyone have any ideas of what foods they can still taste?" - Carran, head & neck…

Steph - Online Community Team
"That there is love in the world when sometimes nothing makes sense..." - A teddy bear's picnic

Just last week, Anna got in touch with me to share the below heartfelt and uplifting story which can only be described as “the ultimate teddy bear’s picnic”. Anna’s mum sadly passed away with cancer quite recently, and given the family’s rather creative history, the picnic served as the perfect tribute to Anna’s mum... A teddy bear’s picnic Recently my mum passed away from cancer after only finding out about it 5 months ago. It was a very tough journey and opened our eyes to the suffering of what sick people go through, especially with cancer. We were strong all the way through but sadly lost the fight. "A celebration of life! And what else did my mum love, but always a cup of tea!" A brief history of the family - we are all creatives, and my mum and dad loved teddy bears. For 50 odd…

Former Member
Planned Community Maintenance - 11th August, 7am-10am

Hi everyone, We’re writing this afternoon with an important update. Tomorrow morning, Tuesday 11 th August , the Community will be entering a read only state from 7am until 10am . This is to allow us to fix two issues that we know users are experiencing just now. This maintenance will fix the below: Logging in issue where users are receiving the error message ‘the user already exists’. See below a screenshot of the error message: Being logged out every 30 minutes or so. Whilst in a read only state, you will still be able to view the Community and read all of the discussions on the site, but you will not be able to log in or post. The main Macmillan website (macmillan.org) will also be unavailable from 7am-10am. If you feel you need some support in the meantime, please remember…

Ellen - Macmillan
Adapting to change - baking a difference

Many of us are forced into learning to adapt when there's a cancer diagnosis. How do you deal with change? In the current pandemic, many of us are experiencing disruption to our normal lives. Whether it’s having the kids at home or things missing off our shopping lists, we’re all having to adapt in some way. How we deal with this change can really affect our well-being. You all help make the Community a safe and supportive space where we can all share our worries, but also a positive place where we can share hints and tips to get through this together. Today, I’ll be sharing some of my tips and recipes for making the most of cupboard items when ready-made products, or crucial ingredients aren’t available! Quick Loaf Did you know, you can make a delicious loaf of bread, without…

Ellen - Macmillan
'My consultant's favourite quote was, "It's not a walk in the park, but it's doable" Mouth Cancer Awareness Month- Chris's story

As the end of November draws in so does the end of Mouth Cancer Awareness Month which takes place every November in the UK. To mark this, we have asked our Community Champion chris2012 a few questions about his experience of being diagnosed with mouth cancer. Why not take a look through Chris’s story? When were you first diagnosed with mouth cancer? When were you first diagnosed with mouth cancer? My name is Chris I am aged 58 and live with my wife and son plus our two mini Dachshunds. I was first diagnosed with floor of the mouth cancer in October 2008 and had my first operation on 5th of November that year followed by 30 zaps of radiotherapy and 3 chemotherapy. This cancer started off with what I thought was an ulcer on my bottom gum but was proved to be a cancerous tumour. "My consultant…

Former Member