Community News - Macmillan Online Community

Catching up with the Family and Friends group

A family member’s or a friend’s diagnosis can have a huge impact on your life. It’s natural to want to find support for yourself while you’re supporting a loved one with cancer. Here in the Community, we have lots of different groups where you can chat to people who may have a similar cancer diagnosis to your family member. These are all safe spaces to ask questions and find support. However, sometimes it can be really helpful to be able to talk to other people who can understand how you feel as a friend or relative. That’s why we also have our “Family and friends” group . In the Community News blog today, we’re going to feature some recent discussions from the group and show you what members have been talking about recently. Remember you can click the links underneath each post to go to the…

Eliza -Online Community Team
New cost of living resources from Macmillan

Lots of people are feeling anxious about the cost of living crisis in the UK. The media recently reported on a Macmillan survey which showed that hundreds of thousands of cancer patients are struggling with rising costs of living. You can read that article here. We've also seen members of the Community start sharing some of those worries across the forums. "My back garden is on a bit of a slope so I no longer hang my washing out as frightened of slipping on steps up to washing line when carrying it, so use my tumble dryer most of the time. Dread to think what my energy bills will be this winter!" "It is all a worry. I think a lot of us face the dilemma of going without food or heat in the coming months" Community members, Express Yourself forum Here on the Community, you can talk…

Steph - Online Community Team
Secondary cancer support from the Online Community - "I have found this forum so helpful and feel the support out there so thank you all"

Secondary cancer is one way of describing cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. We have lots of members in the Community who have been diagnosed with a secondary cancer or are supporting loved ones with a secondary cancer. Other members might feel concerned about secondary cancers throughout their cancer experience. The Community works as an online cancer support group and provides an opportunity for you to virtually connect with others in similar circumstances. You might like some support from someone who understands what you’re going through, or you might be looking for hints around how to talk to someone who has been recently diagnosed. Some members benefit from shared tips on how to occupy your mind when waiting for results, or how to manage side effects from cancer treatment…

Steph - Online Community Team
On the road to recovery

Like many roads and paths in life, being on the road to recovery after cancer treatment isn’t always straight forward. Every path is different and everyone’s road to recovery has challenges. One thing that lots of people find in common is the comfort found from connecting with others in similar situations here on the Online Community. The Community is a place to share personal experiences and to help each other through the difficult moments. Hopefully reading the following experience of members finding their own road to recovery will be helpful. “…One day at a time continues to be my mantra and I’ve realised that this stage of recovery is also very hard with glimmers of normality followed by big crashes!! I’ve found this site very comforting.” Community member, Head and neck cancer forum…

Megan- Online Community Team
Waiting for Breast Biopsy Results

Receiving a cancer diagnosis is one of the toughest moments a person can face. Whether it’s you or a loved one, going for a biopsy and waiting for test results can be a nervous and anxious process, as they can potentially affect the rest of your life. About 55,000 women are diagnosed with Breast Cancer in the UK every year. There are also around 390 men are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK. As one of the UK’s most common cancer types, we take a deeper dive around the Breast Cancer forum within the Community and see how other members have reached out for support during a difficult time. What the Community says If you or a loved one have recently had a biopsy for breast cancer and feel worried about the results, you’re not alone. There are a lot of members who post on the Online Community…

Syed - Macmillan
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
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
Feeling Under Pressure

People affected by cancer have been under pressure, more than ever, in the last few years. As the NHS was stretched in dealing with the Coronavirus pandemic, treatment delays and necessary changes in the way healthcare works, have left many feeling scared and worried. "It’s a scary thing at the start as it’s the waiting which is one of the hardest to cope with. My treatment was during the covid lifting of restrictions and the impact on the hospitals meant scans were delayed and also results. I think maybe because it takes what feels like so long between each step, it causes my inner negative voice to rise to the surface." - Online Community member, Anal cancer forum. The additional challenges brought by COVID 19 are shared and talked about on our Community. "The reason that I am posting…

Tom C - Online Community team
Finding cancer support over the Easter bank holiday weekend

As we head into the UK bank holiday weekend, some of us are celebrating Easter with family and friends. Some of us are almost halfway through the month of Ramadan, a time for reflection and spending time with loved ones. For some of us, it might also be a worrying or sad time. You might be waiting for results, coping with the side effects of treatment, supporting a loved one with cancer or struggling with a bereavement. We wanted to reach out through our Community News blog to highlight the support available to you over this weekend and beyond. “ My family is coming over Easter. I like that very much but now I need to prepare food and stuff. A bit stressful and my energy level is still low.” - Community member, living with cancer outside of the UK forum. Cancer support from the Online…

Steph - 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