Community News - Macmillan Online Community

Are you LGBTQIA+ and living with cancer?

Have you ever felt like parts of your identity or experience were not fully understood during your cancer journey? While everyone’s experience is different, Macmillan recognises that LGBTQIA+ people can face additional barriers across the cancer pathway. Alongside treatment, appointments and recovery, many people also navigate questions about identity, and how to communicate needs to others. Some challenges LGBTQIA+ people face: Worrying if healthcare professionals will understand and respect your relationships or family structure. Having to repeatedly explain pronouns, names, identities or family structures during treatment. Feeling uncomfortable correcting assumptions about gender identity or sexual orientation during appointments. Worrying if partners, chosen family…

Emma - Online Community Team
Carers Week - Are you supporting someone living with cancer?

This week is Carers Week. It is a time to recognise the important role carers play in supporting loved ones through cancer and to highlight the support available to them. We know that caring for someone with cancer can be both rewarding and difficult. It can bring many feelings and challenges, and it is not always easy to know where to find help and support. At Macmillan, we want to help people understand the experiences and challenges carers can face. In this blog, we share some of the support and information available in the Online Community, where carers, family members and friends can connect with others, share experiences, and find support from people who understand. So, what challenges do carers face? Many carers find themselves juggling multiple responsibilities, including work…

Lizzie - Online Community Team
It’s National Inclusion Week!

Have you ever felt that your identity, background or the way you experience the world has affected your cancer journey? National Inclusion Week is an opportunity to think about what inclusion means for people affected by cancer. Cancer can affect anyone, but the experience of diagnosis, treatment and recovery isn’t the same for everyone. For some people, their identity or circumstances can bring additional challenges when accessing information, treatment or support. At Macmillan, we want everyone affected by cancer to feel that there is space for them. That’s why Macmillan's Online Community has dedicated spaces where people from different communities can connect with those who understand the challenges they face. Here are three examples: LGBTQIA+ people and cancer Many LGBTQIA…

Emma - Online Community Team
Wenda’s Story. Cancer and Afro hair care after chemotherapy

Image above: Wenda in 2026 Wenda AKA Sonia101 on the Online Community was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023. She wrote a short memoir about her cancer journey to help inspire others with breast cancer. The book “Faith over Cancer” focuses on Wenda’s persisting faith in God throughout her cancer treatment, including surgery and chemotherapy. As part of her memoir, Wenda also shares her experiences of losing her afro hair following chemotherapy and afro hair care following regrowth. Wenda told us she found it more difficult to find information about afro hair and cancer treatment. Macmillan want to make sure we offer cancer support relevant to you, whoever you may be. In this Community News Blog, we are sharing excerpts and photos from Wenda’s memoir, sharing her experience of hair loss…

Steph - Online Community Team
Cancer during pregnancy: finding support and sharing your story

Note: This content was originally written by Steph - Online Community Team in 2022. To mark World Breastfeeding Awareness Week 2026, it has been updated to include more recent Community content and links to further support information. A cancer diagnosis can be upsetting. If you’re pregnant when diagnosed with cancer it can be even more frightening and confusing. You might feel you need additional support as you receive your cancer diagnosis, navigate treatment options and cancer treatment. The Community is here to support you, in addition to a wide range of help available from Macmillan and other support providers. Members of the Community might also be supporting a loved one with cancer at the same time as going through a pregnancy. Or perhaps you are coping with your own cancer diagnosis…

Matthew - Online Community Team
Travel Insurance and Cancer - your questions answered by an expert

The importance of getting the right cover Are you planning on taking a holiday this year? Perhaps you're looking for a little extra summer sun? Or maybe a winter escape for when the weather turns chilly? Whatever you're planning, there are some travel essentials that no holidaymaker should leave home without. Packing the right travel documents, currency, and clothing for your trip is very important. But what about your insurance? Have you checked your travel insurance plan covers your specific holiday itinerary? Does it cover your specific health needs? If you or someone you're traveling with has a cancer diagnosis, it is vital you have the insurance cover to match. Meet Fiona This is Fiona. She loves to travel. Fiona has first-hand experience of what it's like to be impacted by…

Matthew - Online Community Team
How can Macmillan help me? A guide to getting support for World Cancer Day 2024

World Cancer Day – knowledge is power Sunday 4 February is World Cancer Day , an annual event designed to raise awareness of cancer-related issues across the globe. By highlighting the challenges that people with a cancer diagnosis face, and by advocating for continual improvement in cancer information, treatment, and care, World Cancer Day aims to help get cancer issues prioritised by governments and healthcare bodies alike. The 2024 World Cancer Day theme is 'Close the care gap'. There are many complex factors that contribute to unequal outcomes for people with cancer across the globe. Perhaps the most fundamental barrier to getting support is also the most obvious – if you don’t know what support is available, you aren’t going to be able to take advantage of it! Spreading knowledge…

Matthew - Online Community Team
Wellbeing 'This or That' quiz

Which do you prefer? This or that? Below are some 'this or that' questions to help you understand what your preferred resting type may be, so you can try some of the suggestions in our Helping You Rest Better blog . To join in, select your preference out of the 2 options in each question by clicking the 'vote' button. The links at the bottom of the page will take you to the relevant information for your preferred rest type. This is not in any way medical advice for your physical or mental wellbeing, but a fun way to help you find ways to get better rest and maybe try something new. If you answered: Hot bath - you may find sensory rest to be helpful. Hot yoga - physical rest may be helpful. Meditation - s piritual rest and mental rest may be helpful. Journalling…

Megan- Online Community Team
Cybersecurity: Staying safe on the Community and beyond

Ever since the pandemic, the average number of people using the internet and being present online has increased significantly. Ofcom reported that on average, a person was online for more than 4 hours every day. Naturally, the number of cyberattacks have also increased. The BBC reported that there were around 6,000 fraud and scam cases related to the pandemic in general. It meant that there were more numbers online than before. As we’re trying to come back into some form of a normal routine, it’s important to make sure you’re aware of the risks that being online may entail and what you can do to protect yourself online. As the new year dawns on us in January, in this blog, we take a dive to see how you can help to protect yourself online on the Community and beyond to try and ensure you…

Syed - Macmillan
Accessing the Online Community – Help with account creation and log-in problems

Creating an account Signing up for an Online Community account is usually very easy. You choose whether you want to sign in using an email address or a social media account, you provide a few security details, then you pick a public username. That’s it – you’re all set! Unfortunately, this being the internet, sometimes things go wrong. To save any confusion, it’s a good idea to see what the process looks like when things work as expected. You can either view the handy video below or read the illustrated instructions to learn more about the process. vimeo.com/.../885595769 NOTE: The descriptions and images featured in this guide refer to the Online Community website when using a computer or large screen device. We recommend accessing the website using a full computer or laptop when attempting…

Matthew - Online Community Team
Sharing comfort tips with the Community - what's on your wish list?

What would you put on your comfort wish-list if you were to share it today? You might be looking for something to help with side effects of chemo or other cancer treatment . You could be looking for the best gift to let someone know you’re thinking about them when they’re having a difficult time with cancer. Or perhaps you just need some new ideas when prioritising self-care . It can be really helpful to be able to share information and ideas. In this Community News Blog, we're sharing top tips from across the Community and inviting you to share your own. Lots of people find it can help to be prepared when you're going for tests or going through cancer treatment . In this recent Community News Blog , we shared members tips and lists about what to pack for your hospital visit or stay.…

Steph - Online Community Team
The Online Community can be a part of your social prescription

The Online Community can be a part of your social prescription. Read this blog to help build your own social support plan. Did you know that some medical professionals will prescribe social interaction to support your mental health and overall wellbeing? NHS England says that: “Social prescribing is a key component of Universal Personalised Care. It is an approach that connects people to activities, groups, and services in their community to meet the practical, social, and emotional needs that affect their health and wellbeing.” Read more on the NHS information pages about how social prescribing schemes work. The Online Community can help meet your practical, social, and emotional needs and this blog will share details of how we can help. We can connect you with others who share similar…

Megan- Online Community Team