Community News - Macmillan Online Community

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
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
Crafting, mindfulness and coping with cancer: Helen’s story

Helen was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in March 2021. Like many people who receive a cancer diagnosis, Helen felt a mixture of emotions including worry, panic and stress. She had lots of questions about cancer and what might happen in the future. To help herself cope with how she was feeling, Helen turned to crafting. A lifelong knitter and crocheter, Helen talks in her video about how crafting helps to distract and calm her mind. She talks about how crafting and creativity have been incredibly important throughout her experience with cancer. Crafting has also helped Helen to create her legacy for her family and loved ones. Here on the Online Community, lots of members talk about how art, crafting, creative writing and hobbies can help with how you’re feeling. Members in our Express…

Eliza -Online Community Team
"Not enough people of colour are going onto that register"- Wilfred's Acute Myeloid Leukaemia diagnosis and treatment story

Wilfred was born in Jamaica and is part of the Windrush generation. He came to the UK around the 1960s and settled in Birmingham. Wilfred was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia and shares his reflections post-diagnosis and treatment, alongside the challenges a black person needing a stem cell transplant can face. Wilfred also talks about the need for emotional support when living with cancer and how Macmillan can help. The Online Community is a space to talk about how you are coping and access emotional support in our cancer forums. Join our Emotional support forum or post in our other cancer forums if you need additional support today. The Community is a safe and supportive space for people to share their personal experiences with cancer so if you are affected by Acute myeloid leukaemia…

Megan- Online Community Team
“It has taken me over 5 years to come to terms with what I went through” -Dimple is sharing her story

Dimple shares her cancer diagnosis story and how telling her children about her cancer was the hardest thing she has ever done. Cancer and treatment can have an emotional and financial impact on your life and Dimple tells us about some of the challenges she faced when living with cancer. On the 29th of December 2015, I was diagnosed with Cancer or Cookies as I called it because the word still scared me so much. The term the doctor used when they told me I had Cancer was primary cancer unknown - in other words the cancer had spread, and they didn’t know where it had started. The doctor that told me didn’t even ask if I had someone with me or how I would be getting home. It felt like I was just on his list for that day and he delivered his news and carried on with his day. I managed to hear…

Megan- Online Community Team
Summer Picture Festival

What better way to look back on summer than through pictures? This summer, we asked Online Community members to share their experiences of summer through photographs and artwork as part of our Summer Picture Festival in our “Express yourself” forum . This forum is a place to celebrate creativity and how being creative can help you to feel better. Here on Community News, we’ll be reflecting on summer as we go into autumn by looking through a selection of members' photographs and artwork. Remember you can also see all the pictures from this year’s Summer Picture Festival in the “Express yourself” forum . Lots of members shared pictures of flowers in bloom. If you share a love of gardening, why not take a look at our blog on gardening chat ? Some members shared their paintings. If you…

Eliza -Online Community Team
Anastrozole and reduced risk of breast cancer

Since yesterday (Tuesday 7 th November), various media outlets have been sharing a news story about Anastrozole, a medication that may be offered to tens of thousands of women who are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer. This could be a huge step forward for breast cancer prevention in the UK, and it has generated a large number of conversations across the Online Community around breast cancer treatments. Macmillan Cancer Support have been asked to provide a statement in response to this announcement. Statement from Macmillan Cancer Support Dany Bell, Strategic Adviser for Treatment, Medicines and Genomics at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “Knowing that you have an increased risk of developing breast cancer can be difficult to deal with, so today’s news about Anastrozole is…

Syed - Macmillan
"Thank you to all the community champions, your kindness and dedication is absolutely amazing"

It’s volunteer’s week from 1 st - 7 th June and we hope you’ll join us with saying a big thank you to our amazing Community Champions. They are members of the site who dedicate their time to support members of the Online Community. “Thank you to all the community champions , your kindness and dedication is absolutely amazing” Community member, Community news blog “Thank you so much. You've been supportive from the start and encouraged me all the way. You’re an absolute inspiration x" Community member, Cervical cancer forum “ Thank again, you are always there for people with good advice and support, so very kind, no wonder you are a community champion.” Community member, Diffuse large b cell lymphoma forum “Thank you for taking on the role of champion. Your support is invaluable to everyone…

Megan- Online Community Team