Community News

International Nurses Day: Reflections from the Online Community

International Nurses Day (IND) is celebrated each year on 12 May, marking the birthday of Florence Nightingale. It’s a chance to honour the incredible work nurses do every day to support and care for others. In the Online Community , many members have shared how much nurses have helped during some of their most difficult times. Today, we’re sharing a few of those messages, along with ways you can speak with a nurse yourself. “I spoke to a Macmillan nurse this morning who was very reassuring and kind.” Community member, Bowel cancer forum The difference nurses make “The most amazing nurse who has been an incredible practical support both in terms of getting pain relief quickly from my GP and visits to check on progress and kept my morale up as much as possible.” Community member, Head…

Have you had your green medicine?

Picture by Winkers60 in the Spring spotting 2025 discussion thread. It’s Gardens and Health Week from 3 rd to 11th May 2025. To celebrate this, we are sharing information about Macmillan’s partner, The National Garden Scheme, and how you can get some green medicine during Gardens and Health week. What is the National Garden scheme? Our longest standing partner The National Garden Scheme have donated over £19 million to Macmillan Cancer Support since 1984, funding over 150 Macmillan nurses and professionals along with helping to fund three major care units. In honour of Gardens and Health Week 3-11 May 2025 the National Garden Scheme’s Garden and Health program brings to life the power of ‘Green Medicine’ which emphasises and raises awareness of the physical and mental health benefits…

Meet Mr U - self advocating through cancer treatment with a pre-existing heart condition

Image by Mr U - The famous 'Mr Vicious' who features throughout Mr U's blog Community member Mr U was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer in 2022. He also has a pre-existing heart condition, making treatment more complicated. In his Online Community blog ‘ To hop-on or hop-off is the question? ’ Mr U has shared his story of self-advocacy through treatment and pushing for better outcomes. Self-advocacy means actively speaking up, asking questions, and making informed decisions about treatment. Dealing with different hospital departments and trusts, whilst trying to remain positive isn’t easy. Mr U shares how he has coped, whilst staying strong for his wife 'My Darling' and family. “Where do I even start to explain the everyday pain of self-advocacy?" Today I’ve written around…

Ethnic minority cancer awareness on the Online Community

As part of Ethnic minority cancer awareness month, we are sharing the lived experiences of ethnic minority communities posted in our forums and blogs, alongside sharing support resources. Here on the Online Community, all our forums are intended as a safe place for you to talk anonymously about your emotions and experiences with other people who may be going through a similar situation. We realise that sometimes a person’s identity can impact their personal cancer journey. This could be because they have experienced racial health inequalities, breakdown in relationships and family dynamics, religious and cultural challenges, stigmas with their gender, and so much more. There may be stigmas linked to a cancer diagnosis, which can result in isolation and loneliness. We want our Online Community…

Spirituality, faith and cancer in the Online Community

A cancer experience can lead to many changes. Some are physical, while others may affect how you see life, yourself, or the world around you. In times of uncertainty, many people turn to faith or spirituality for comfort, strength, and a sense of peace. Spirituality can mean different things to different people. For some, it’s about following a religion or being part of a faith community. For others, it might be a personal sense of meaning, connection to nature, or time for quiet reflection. In this blog, we are shining a light on our Religion, spirituality and prayer forum . This is a space in the Online Community where you can share prayers, reflections, or explore spiritual thoughts and questions with others who understand. A faith community can play a vital role in your support. It…

Community this or that quiz- Coffee morning

We want to bring our Online Community together to connect and have some light hearted fun during September, as it is the hallmark month for Macmillan’s World’s biggest coffee morning. Find the coffee morning this or that quiz in this blog. Last week, we posted the Bringing the Community Together blog, where details of why Macmillan's world's biggest coffee morning is important and how the Community has supported people affected by cancer over the years. Read the ‘ Bringing the Community together- Virtual coffee morning ’ blog here. Virtual coffee morning This year is the 35th year anniversary of the World’s biggest coffee morning, which continues to make a difference to support everyone affected by cancer. The Online Community’s virtual Coffee morning brings our members together to…

We're here for you: Find cancer support services near you

Right support, right place Being told you have cancer can be very difficult. It can take up a lot of your time, energy, and emotional strength. That’s why it’s important that cancer support is easy to find, easy to use, and easy to understand. Macmillan offers a wide range of support services that can be accessed from nearly anywhere. You can talk to Macmillan advisers directly by contacting our Macmillan Support Line . You can connect with other people to share similar experiences and offer support using our free and anonymous Online Community site. But sometimes, you may need support that is in-person and close to where you live. That’s where our local cancer support search tool comes in. Fast, vast, and always up-to-date Our new and improved local cancer support search tool now…

Recognising shared support on the Online Community - Special Contributions, Guest Bloggers and Community Champions

At the heart of our Online Community is the incredible support and connection that members offer each other. Every day, we see individuals going above and beyond, sharing their experiences, offering a helping hand, and making our space a positive and encouraging place to be. To celebrate these acts of kindness and dedication, the Online Community team offer badges to recognise and honour the contributions of our members. In this blog, we’ll introduce you to the different badges we award and explain how they highlight the amazing impact our members have. Whether it’s a thoughtful post, a story shared, or consistent support in our discussion groups, we want to celebrate it all. If you feel inspired to get more involved or know someone whose efforts deserve recognition, we’d love to hear from…

Discover the Travel Insurance forum

Going anywhere nice? Planning a holiday can be an exciting task. It can also be very complicated. After picking a destination, you need to decide on travel arrangements. Then there’s the matter of booking the perfect accommodation. Prices. Dates. There’s lots to consider. As with any holiday, it is also essential to purchase some insurance in case something goes wrong. Many travel and holiday websites make this step surprisingly easy, offering some appropriate cover during the booking process. Unfortunately, when you need to buy a policy that will cover someone living with a cancer diagnosis, things can get complicated. Many mainstream insurers have a long list of exclusions that mean your specific circumstances won’t be covered. Even if they will provide cover, the cost of the necessary…

World Cancer Day 2026

World cancer day image: Alt text- Green and white graphic reading “World Cancer Day” with an illustrated green globe forming the letter “O” in “World.” Below, the date “4th February” is displayed, representing global awareness and solidarity for cancer care. On World Cancer Day, Macmillan stands in solidarity with the millions of people affected by cancer and welcomes the Government’s new National Cancer Plan for England. By raising awareness and calling for better care across the UK, we’re supporting a future where everyone gets the help they need, when they need it most. No one should have to face cancer feeling lost or alone. At least every 75 seconds, someone’s life changes with a cancer diagnosis in the UK. That is almost 1,200 people across the UK on average are diagnosed with cancer…

Mike and Steve talk about the Online Community