Community News - Macmillan Online Community

Talking with experts about Sex and Cancer: "All good sex starts with a conversation"

Sex, intimacy, and relationships are regular topics of conversation here on the Community. From discussions about erectile dysfunction, and hormonal and libido changes to using dilators and pumps. There’s no need to feel embarrassed when talking about sex on the Community, our forums are anonymous safe spaces for you to talk openly about your feelings and share your personal experiences with people who understand. This blog features a video hosted by Helen Addis, joined by Macmillan Chief Medical Officer, Richard, and Sarah, a Sexual Health Nurse and Lovehoney Sexpert. Together, they explore the ways to maintain a healthy sexual relationship during and after cancer treatment. “Recovery and going through cancer treatment doesn’t have to mean that you lose your sexiness’. Through personal…

Megan- Online Community Team
Thyroid cancer on the Community

As we welcome September, we enter Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month. This blog highlights the practical and emotional effects thyroid cancer can have on your life. As in all our forums, our Thyroid Cancer forum has members who come together to share their experiences and support one another through every step of their journeys. Whatever your experience may be, this forum is a safe space where you can connect with others who may truly understand what you're going through. So join us on the Community as we read this blog to catch up with some of the recent discussions in our Thyroid cancer forum. Remember, if you have been diagnosed with thyroid cancer or supporting someone living with thyroid cancer, we hope this blog can be a helpful overview of the support you can find in the Thyroid cancer…

Syed - Macmillan
"Getting cancer at our age is such a shock" - supporting adults in their 20's, 30's and 40's on the Online Community

In this first of a two-part blog, we will be investigating the support available from the Online Community when you are diagnosed as a younger adult. Being diagnosed in your 20's, 30's or 40's might mean you are more likely to need support with issues around relationships, fertility, family, money and work. In this blog, we will focus on shared experiences, fertility and family. You might be thinking about starting a family; have young children, teenagers, elderly parents or other dependants to care for. You can find the second part of the blog here which will feature conversations on relationships, career and finances. Talking about cancer, with people who understand Lots of people find it can help to have someone to talk to when you have been referred for tests for cancer, have recently…

Steph - Online Community Team
Black History Month – Support and Solidarity on the Online Community

October is Black History Month in the UK, which has been celebrated nationwide for over 30 years. The theme for this year is ‘Reclaiming narratives’, which is around sharing and recognising the contributions of Black individuals and their stories. As part of recognising and celebrating Black History Month, today we are sharing available support and Black people living with cancer who have shared their story on the Online Community. We’re also sharing reflections on Black History Month from Francesca Okosi, Macmillan’s Chief People & Culture Officer. The first Black History Month in the UK took place in 1987 and was arranged by Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, who came to the UK from Ghana as a refugee in 1984. 1987 marked the 150th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the Caribbean. Black History…

Eliza -Online Community Team
The Cancer Experience Forums – finding peer support to match your situation

What’s in a name? The meaning of ‘Cancer Experiences’ might not be as obvious as ‘Cancer Types’, but it’s a good way of summarising the wide variety of support groups you can find in this section. While the Cancer Types section helps members with a similar diagnosis to find and support one another, the groups in the Cancer Experiences section gathers people around the various situations and circumstances they might encounter when cancer impacts the life of themselves or a loved one. When you visit the Cancer Experiences section, you will find all of the support groups listed in alphabetical order. To help you discover which groups might be most relevant to you, this blog aims to organise the different support groups into a few common categories for you to browse. New members and general…

Matthew - Online Community Team
Diagnosed as a younger adult - support from the Online Community

In our recent blog ' Getting cancer at our age is such a shock - supporting adults in their 20's, 30's and 40's on the Online Community' we discussed how b eing diagnosed as a younger adult might mean you are more likely to need support with issues around relationships, fertility, family, money and work. In the first of the two part blog, we shared experiences related to fertility and family, with a focus on children and other dependants. In this second part of the blog, we are highlighting conversations on relationships, career and finances. Although many of these issues do affect people living with cancer at any age, this short blog series focuses on the experiences of members who have been diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 20-50. Many people describe finding it difficult to…

Steph - Online Community Team
The power of peer support- the Online Community in 2024

Each year we are humbled by the kindness and compassion our members show each other every day on the Community. W e would like to take a moment to celebrate the power of peer support in 2024. Over 21,900 new members joined us this year looking for company and connection. Around 179,000 posts, blogs, and replies were made , alongside 125,739 virtual hugs and hearts were sent. It is amazing to see so many of you supporting each other through a cancer diagnosis, treatment, and side effects alongside the emotional effects of cancer. The power of peer support Connecting with people who are in the same situation as you can be a vital part of your support system when living with cancer or supporting someone who is. It can help you feel less alone when talking to someone who knows how you are…

Megan- Online Community Team
"I saw that I wasn’t alone": The power of peer support when caring for a loved one with cancer

March is Brain Cancer Awareness Month. We want to take this opportunity to highlight our Glioblastoma Multiforme Brain Tumour forum and Brain cancer forum . These are safe spaces for people affected by brain cancer, to find emotional support, discuss treatment and share experiences In this blog, we hear from Chris ( Branoc ), who joined the Online Community shortly after his wife was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour. He later became a Community Champion, supporting other members affected by brain cancer for 2 years. Here, he shares some of his story and explains why he believes peer-to-peer support is so important for those affected by cancer. My wife was diagnosed with a glioblastoma (an aggressive brain tumour) in June 2022. I immediately wanted to find out everything I could about…

Dylan - Online Community Team
Dating and cancer- Mason's story

Valentines’ day was last week, and we started a discussion around dating and cancer here on the Online Community. If you have a dating with cancer experience you want to share, or have been thinking about starting a new relationship but are feeling worried, join the Let’s talk about dating and cancer discussion thread. It’s a dedicated space for Community members to support each other and share personal experiences with dating. In the Lived experiences with cancer and dating blog posted last week, Lauren shares her story. At the age of 25, Lauren was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma. As she navigated a cancer diagnosis and treatment, Lauren was also starting a new relationship with Danny. The couple have now been together for six years and recently got engaged. Click here to hear Lauren…

Megan- Online Community Team
Lived experiences of dating with cancer

We all deserve support, love and kindness in our lives, especially when living with cancer as you need emotional and practical support. Along with many other practical challenges cancer brings dating is one of them. Cancer treatment may have changed some of your personal relationships, your appearance and self-confidence, so you are worried about meeting new people. When the time feels right to look for a new relationship, you may find yourself asking questions like these Community members: “So, what does everyone do Re dating post breast or any cancer? Body not the same, medication has not so nice side effects and this effects various parts of my body. I work full time and have varying degrees of fatigue. Where do people go to date similar or match/companion with people who 'get it'?”…

Megan- Online Community Team
World Cancer Day - The Online Community is here for everyone

Ahead of World Cancer Day on 4 February 2025 we are highlighting the support shared on the Online Community. As the number of people with cancer is rising, Macmillan are challenging the inequalities in cancer care. We know that many people's cancer experience can be more difficult because of who they are, or where they live. Our Online Community is here for everyone, whoever you may be, or wherever you live. By asking the questions and sharing your experience, you all take a part in supporting others. Together, we can make sure no one has to go through cancer alone. Members of the Co mmunity are here to tell you how the Community has helped them and welcome you to join them in the forums. "You’re definitely NOT alone here. A few months ago, I was on this forum at all hours of the day…

Steph - Online Community Team
New Year, New Dates - Local Cancer Community Meet-ups 2025

Welcome to 2025! If you're in Birmingham, Bradford, Cardiff, Dundee, Glasgow Coatbridge, or Rochester, and you fancy chatting face-to-face with other people affected by cancer... we're delighted to announce even more opportunities to make new friends. These in-person events intend to build supportive communities of people local to the areas they're hosted in. To avoid confusing them with our Online Community, we refer to these events as 'Local Cancer Community Meet-ups' in this blog. If you would like to discuss attending this event with other members of the Online Community, please don't forget that our Community Guidelines still apply. The Private Messaging system is a safer way to discuss specific meet-up plans with friends on the forum. Please see our guide to Private Messages and Friends…

Matthew - Online Community Team