Community News - Macmillan Online Community

'I keep reminding myself that one step at a time is enough' - My journey through breast cancer in verse and word - Vol 3

Today here on the Community News we wanted to share with you the third volume of our series ‘My journey through breast cancer in verse and word’ by Amanda-Jayne. Amanda-Jayne was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2019 and used poetry and journaling to diarise her experience throughout. Amanda-Jayne has very kindly sent through her poetry and writing to us here and we are really pleased to be bringing you this series. In her writing Amanda-Jayne talks openly about her thoughts and feelings through diagnosis and treatment. If you missed the last volume of Amanda-Jayne’s blog, click here to catch up. ‘….I am told it helps to put all your worries and anxieties onto paper, that way they are out of your head and you can sleep better, writing them, down won’t solve your worries but it can help…

Former Member
Sick of all the bad news? Our members have a plan!

As the dust starts to settle after the lockdown announcement, we all begin to face the reality of a few weeks, maybe even months, at home. Everybody’s situation is different, the challenges of living alone are very different to those of large families suddenly locked down together. One thing that's undeniable though is that those affected by cancer are certainly impacted more than most by the coronavirus. It’s important now more than ever that we pull together as a Community. The not so breaking news we’re delivering today … is that this is already happening! Check out just some of the many examples below. Our daily Boris Break Tit-Bits - A space for sharing your feelings and staying connected. Lockdown......don't panic...... Lacomtekp - Lovely post by one of our members living in…

Tom C - Online Community team
Planned Community 'downtime'

Hi everyone, We’re posting this afternoon to let you know about some planned Community ‘downtime’ which will be happening next Tuesday, 11 th February from 7am-1pm . We are carrying out essential maintenance which will better protect the Community and its users from security risks. We have tried to coordinate this to cause minimum disruption and whilst we are hopeful that the site might be up and running again before the end of the planned downtime, this may not be the case. We’re really sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. During this time, if you need support please know that our Support Line is open 8am-8pm on freephone 0808 808 00 00 . You can also chat online to our Information and Support advisers here . If you have any questions, or you’d like to talk to the Community…

Ellen - Macmillan
‘Just remember you are what's important. Take time for yourself' - (Gingebiscuit) Wellbeing round up: December

While December can be a month of excitement, celebration and time spent with family and friends it can also be a very difficult, stressful and conflicting time for many. Taking time to look after yourself amongst the busyness of the season is so important, so why not grab a hot drink, snuggle up warm and read through some of the wellbeing tips from the last month? 'Time is precious, people are precious, and a good mindset says " don't waste energy stressing over stuff that we just don't have control over but put our energy into getting through each day and enjoying the moment" - coffee time I say. - Thehighlander "they will pass and there will be better days." ‘I find myself having lots of low days and what gets me through them is knowing that they will pass and there will be better days…

Former Member
'I honestly don't think I would be here now if I wasn't told about this site' What the Community means to me...Vol 2: Johnty and Popgate

Today we have the second instalment of our ‘What the Community means to me…’ series. This series highlights just how much support, friendship and kindness is shared on the site every day. Today we have two members, and Popgate sharing their stories and discussing what it means to them to be on the site. Why not take a moment to read through? Missed our first instalment? You can click here to read tvman 's story. Johnty's story: 'I was diagnosed 17 months ago with a rare incurable blood cancer and for the first year I coped all by myself, but as my disease has progressed and is now terminal, I wanted to create a support network for myself. The Macmillan forum has come to play a big part in my emotional well being. "It has meant so much to me to feel useful again..." I have taken all…

Former Member
'It is a much-loved family recipe'- Dining with an Ostomate: Spaghetti bolognese and carbonara

Debbie, our wonderful 'chef to ostomates' is back today with not one, but two delicious spaghetti recipes. All of Debbie’s recipes are, of course, designed with Ostomates in mind and in case you’ve missed any of her recipes to date, you can find them all in our Ileostomy, colostomy and stoma support group here . So why not put an apron on and get cooking! Enjoy… Here are two recipes with pasta, a failsafe for me when I need to thicken my stoma output. I love to have mushrooms in my Bolognese but with that and celery, I was a bit wary of it at first - until I decided to try blitzing the veg et voila! Dry frying the meat means it’s a healthier recipe than most Bolognese, which add oil. The Carbonara is a great comfort food that I often ate after chemotherapy. It is a much-loved family recipe…

Former Member
"...One of the best bits of advice given to me, has been to try and take every day as it comes..." (Sukki17) - Wellbeing Wednesdays: November

October seems to have flown by in a flurry of multi-coloured leaves and soggy misty mornings. Here’s our ‘Wellbeing Wednesday’ summary to ease us into the beginning of November. So put your feet up and have a scroll through some wonderful wellbeing tips from the Community . "...if the event is in our control we can do it, and if it’s not in our control we can decide how we respond to it.’ ‘The old adage “Life is what you make it” really is very true, because even in trying times we have the option to decide what to do, and if the event is in our control we can do it, and if it’s not in our control we can decide how we respond to it.’ ( Tim90 ) ‘The Japanese have a word wabi-sabi - nothing is ever permanent, perfect or complete.’ () "Don't have expectations of yourself. It’s rubbish…

Former Member
"... The wind blows softly, the wind blows swift to carry my doubts and worries away..."- Creativity on the Community

Today on the Community News Blog we are shining a light on all things creative from every corner of the Community. It doesn’t take long when looking through the community to stumble upon something creative, from knitted toys to poetry there are so many ways that members express themselves. Why not take a look through? Creative Arts & Crafts In the ‘ Breast Cancer’ group posted pictures of some wonderful knitted toys she’s made in the ' Crafts and BC' thread. Sticking with an animal theme, here we have 's beautiful quilt made by paper piece quilting. GBear has uploaded her incredible painting of a tiger in the ‘ Express yourself ’ group. Poetry and Writing WhatHappened put her feelings about the Community into a poem in the ‘Breast Cancer’ group. "Mental pain…

Former Member
"...it was teatime and I hadn't thought about my 'alien'..." - Wellbeing Wednesdays: September

It’s September, so time to share our favourite ‘Wellbeing Wednesday’ tips for the past month. What a month it’s been for, so I’ve gone ahead and thrown in few extra ones – this month there’s a focus on ‘distractions’. “I watch my dogs happy and content in the moment. Be like them, forget the past, you can't change it. Live for the moment, enjoy all you see and hear. Look forward to the future. Be brave, ask for help, and love all around you…” “What I'm trying to say is when you are at your lowest and you think things are never ending, things will get better...There is light at the end of the tunnel so don't give up!” "Yes, having a garden or an allotment is a lovely way of spending our free time. Being active outdoor, growing vegetables and fruit, picking our own fresh crop and making…

Former Member
“Don't feel guilty whatever you do. You're doing your best in a rubbish situation…” (buttercup01) – Family and friends

Our Community is for everyone affected by cancer, that can be the person with the diagnosis, or the person’s partner, husband, wife, son, daughter, relative, colleague or friend. That’s why we have our Family and friends group . This is the second Community News post in a series that looks at our Family and friends group which is a great place to get advice on talking to, listening to, understanding, and helping someone who has cancer. Here are a few recent highlights from the group to show how vital a source of support members of the group are to each other. Helping my friend Pippin66 posted on the Community for the first time asking how to best help a friend: “…I really appreciate the guidance you have given me here and will certainly follow up on it. This is going to be a hard…

Former Member
"...give that extra cuddle and hug to a special person in your life." (MetalMicky) - Wellbeing Wednesdays: October

It’s October already, and with it another ‘Wellbeing Wednesdays’ summary. So, grab yourself a cuppa, get cosy, and take in some tops tips from the Community for the past month. "A busy mind won't have time to think about other things. This is easier said than done but in time it will get easier" ( Tony Soprano ) “Deep breathing really helped – I needed a psychologist at one point, and he did some breathing with me, and at the end, I honestly felt a calmness in not minding whether this was going to be my last breath or not. It was kind of the notion of letting go of control and noticing the simplicity of the breath and everything around us.” ( Greg777 ) “No one can know how long, or when – so holding on tight and remembering to breath is keeping me going, and knowing that my job is to…

Former Member
"...it remains a rare and preventable cancer." - Mesothelioma: What is it?

Last Friday, September 26th marked Mesothelioma Awareness Day, and to recognise this Mesothelioma.com got in touch a while back, asking if I'd like to help them raise a further awareness of Mesothelioma, the dangers of asbestos and other asbestos-related diseases. Below is a summary as to what the day's all about: Mesothelioma Awareness Day (MAD) strives to inform others about this rare cancer caused by asbestos. The ramifications of asbestos exposure have lasted far past its first connection to mesothelioma. It continues to affect people who come in contact with locations, products, or appliances that still contain this fibre. The U.S. continues to allow one per cent of asbestos in construction and other commodities today, though many countries like Australia and the United Kingdom have…

Former Member

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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