Community News - Macmillan Online Community

Deaf Awareness Week 2021

This week (3 rd -9 th May) marks Deaf Awareness Week 2021, a week where we raise awareness of deafness and the Deaf community as well as the support available for deaf/Deaf people. You may wonder why I have written the word deaf with a lower-case d, as well as with an upper- case D. This is because we want to reach out to anyone affected by hearing loss, whether they are part of the Deaf community and identify as a Deaf person (Deaf), or not (deaf). The word deaf can be used to describe someone who is severely hard of hearing. With a capital D however, it is a term that is used to describe someone who is part of the Deaf community and culturally Deaf. What is the Deaf community? The Deaf community is a community of people who identify as Deaf and who share their culture and sense of identity…

Former Member
May is sun awareness month - let's talk about the sun, sunburn and skin cancer

We often refer to the sun when talking about happy times. Saying that sunny days make us feel good or telling someone you hope the sun shines for them. Comments about enjoying the sun might not always be appropriate, especially for people affected by skin cancer. We should be mindful of this when we're talking to others. We should also remember that sun awareness is a really important issue for us all. Sun exposure can put you at risk of sunburn, or skin damage. Ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun is the main cause of most skin cancers. UV light damages the DNA (genetic material) in our skin cells and can cause skin cancer. In this Community News blog, we'll feature conversations from our skin cancer and melanoma forums. You'd be very welcome to join in if you have your own tips or questions…

Steph - Online Community Team
Have you seen these conversations?

In today’s blog, we’re catching up on some recent conversations from across the Online Community. Members have been offering each other lots of support lately. From side effects to talking to children, members have been talking about everything and anything around their cancer experiences. Even if you have a different type of cancer, remember that you're still welcome to talk to other members in groups across the site. Why not join in and find support? “How was/is the experience of chemo and how do you deal with the side effects?” Bertz, “Bowel (colon and rectum) cancer group In the “Bowel (colon and rectum) cancer” group, member Bertz started a conversation around managing side effects from chemotherapy. Lots of members have replied to share their own experiences. Kareno62’s tip is…

Eliza -Online Community Team
Parents of children with cancer: do you feel supported?

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month . Today on Community News, we’re talking about parents. No matter how old your child is when they are diagnosed with cancer, the news can still be devastating. A child’s diagnosis can affect all family members, and it’s important to find the right support. “[I am] finding some comfort in the fact that there are other people who have gone through and go through what I am going through…My son has had a malignant aggressive tumour found in his femur. It has all been INCREDIBLY quick. Our world has been turned upside down.” Community member, “Parents of children with cancer” forum Here in the Online Community, many members say things like that it can really help to share experiences. Lots of members have talked about looking after their child…

Eliza -Online Community Team
Our Growing Community

There are many different reasons for joining the Online Community as it provides safe spaces for patients and loved ones to get support from real people. Real people who can truly understand what it’s like being affected by cancer. Today’s blog looks at some of the conversations that you’re getting involved with in our Community groups this month. If you want read last month’s round up blog ‘ What does the Community mean to you? ’ you can do so by clicking here . We usually see lots new members joining the Online Community for support each week. Whether you've been with us for a while, or you've only just joined, it's important to know there's lots of support available for you. Our Community is a place for patients, family members, carers and loved ones to access emotional support and practical…

Megan- Online Community Team
Planned Online Community Maintenance - Tuesday 10th August, 6AM - 10AM

Hi everyone, Due to some planned maintenance, the Online Community will enter a read-only mode tomorrow morning, Tuesday 10th August from 6:00am to 10:00am. This means that you will not be able to log in, post or reply on the Online Community during this time. You will still be able to read posts and blogs on the site. If you feel you need some support while the Online Community is unavailable, please remember our Support Line is here for you. Our teams are available 8am-8pm, 7 days a week by phone on freephone 0808 808 00 00 and also by email or on webchat . Thank you for your patience and support as Macmillan continues to update and improve our online services. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at community@macmillan.org.uk . Kindest Regards…

Moderator - Macmillan Community
Being bodies: vaginal dryness

Vaginal dryness affects lots of people, for many different reasons. Some cancer treatments can cause vaginal dryness. Vaginal dryness can also be a symptom of the menopause that some people may experience. Your body and how you feel about sex can also be affected by how you are doing emotionally. For some people, it can feel difficult to seek the right help. This could be because you feel embarrassed or ashamed, or not listened to. It’s important to know that you’re not alone. In today’s Community News blog, we’re talking all about vaginal dryness, and what might help. “It is so frustrating when something so delicate and intimate can affect us all.” Community member The vagina usually produces some natural fluid. If your vagina is producing less of this fluid, some types of sex might…

Eliza -Online Community Team
Cancer & me 35 years on - Surgery at St. Mary's

Today we are back with the 13th volume of our longest running Community News Blog series ‘Cancer & me 35 years on’. Willo was diagnosed with Anal cancer in 1986 while living in Zambia. In this blog series Willo has been sharing her experience of living through and beyond cancer. Alongside sharing everything she has been through, Willo has also been sharing the amazing artwork she created during this time in her life. So far, Willo has covered her experience of moving back to England for treatment, her Abdominoperineal Resection , going back to art school p ost-surgery and the amazing friends and family that helped her through. In today's blog, Willo talks about a very important, and often very difficult time in anyone’s cancer experience, waiting for results. We are back with Willo today…

Former Member
September Community Catch up

Let’s take a look back at what’s been happening on the Community over the last month. Not everyone is logged onto the site everyday and with so many people coming to one place to access support, it can take some time to catch up with what’s been going on over the past few weeks. This month we welcomed 2,041 new members to the Online Community. With more and more people joining the site, we are seeing more people share experiences. Cancer patients, loved ones and carers posted 3,147 replies which shows how much support is offered from you, our members, every day. There are many different reasons for visiting the Community, but once you're here, you’ll find that you’re not alone in dealing with your situation. There are thousands of people sharing their experiences and offering a comforting…

Megan- Online Community Team
The recurring fear of recurrence

"Whatever your prognosis, whatever your hopes, whatever your personality, the second that you know that you have cancer your life changes irrevocably." It seems to be a common experience that once cancer treatment finishes, the anxieties and fears around recurrence become heightened. We regularly see conversations about recurrence, or worries of recurrence, on the community and how much this can impact your wellbeing and mental health. It’s natural to worry about cancer coming back, and it’s something that our Community members support each other with here on the site. "The fear of recurrence is troubling me, I realise whole heartedly I’m so lucky and I’m trying to be positive but I don’t want to ignore the impact of the treatment had on my well-being." Community member "I feel worse…

Ellen - Macmillan
Pancreatic cancer awareness and support information

Have you or someone you love been diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer? If so, then this blog will be useful for you to read. We’re sharing support information and highlighting some of the conversations members of the Community have had recently. November is Pancreatic Cancer awareness month, so we’d like to take some time to show you that the Online Community is here to support you every day of the year. Even if you’re not affected by Pancreatic cancer, you may be interested to hear how members of the Community support each other. What is Pancreatic cancer? The video below (02:21 minutes) is an abdominal surgeon name Charles, talking about Pancreatic cancer. If you need more information and guidance around symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options for pancreatic cancer, please visit the…

Megan- Online Community Team
Winter Picture Festival 2021 - Creativity and crafts

Grasan 's a beautiful MDF painting. First of all, we’d just like to say a big thank you to everyone who shared a picture with the Online Community as part of our Winter Picture Festival. Your pictures brought the Community team, and our members, a lot of happiness this December. The Winter Picture Festival gave members the opportunity to share a picture they’d taken, or something they had made, on a winter theme. Something that we love about the Winter Picture Festival is that it is a celebration of creativity. Being creative can be fun and can also be a helpful way to relax. Mind , a charity which specialises in mental wellbeing, features an activity on their website called drawing calming circles . They also suggest trying a colouring book as a mindful activity. Anyone can be creative…

Eliza -Online Community Team

Awake and up all night?

We know that cancer can sometimes cause sleepless nights. Join our Cancer Chat forum for some company here in the 'Awake and up all night' thread.

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