Community News - Macmillan Online Community

Travel Tips from our Cancer Forums

The neck pillows, the duty-free attendants waiting to spray you in the latest cologne or perfume, using your passport as a fan and the extortionate in-flight meal price. It seems like it’s that time again. It doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go abroad, a quiet break a few towns away is just as good to replenish and recharge. As we approach the tail-end of Summer, we take a look on the Community at how our lovely members provide their experiences to help others to try and have the best trip they can. Every person’s definition of holiday is different. You can go biking in a national park on a quaint family holiday, you can relax by the swimming pool at a hotel in Thailand or even explore some affordable staycations. Whatever the plan is, you can look to the Community for some summer holiday…

Syed - Macmillan
Finding Cancer Support Online – Where do I start?

We know from our Online Community that dealing with cancer can be overwhelming. People with cancer and their family members, or loved ones, often look for emotional support and practical advice or ways to get involved with others for cancer support online. With Macmillan’s Online Community, you have come to the right place to talk to others who understand. Here you can find peer support and talk to other people with real lived cancer experience. www.youtube.com/watch But where do you start? In today’s Community News Blog that’s exactly what we’re talking about. We're highlighting all the different support available on the Community and also providing tips to help you get started. Using the Online Community The first thing to say is that we know new websites or technologies can be overwhelming…

Tom C - Online Community team
Online Community downtime: Thursday 18th August 2022- 7am to 9am

There is some planned maintenance taking place on Macmillan’s website on Thursday 21st July, from 7am-10am. So that this essential maintenance can take place, the Online Community will experience some downtime. This means that members will not be able to log in, or join the Online Community, between 7 am - 9am On Thursday 18th August 2022. We know how important the Community is as a source of support for our members, so we always do our best to ensure the site is not unavailable for any longer than necessary. Please know that while the site is down, although you will not be able to create an account, log into the site or post, you will still be able to view the Community and read posts and discussions for support. We understand that this may impact members who rely on the Online Community…

Megan- Online Community Team
Catching up with the Soft Tissue sarcoma forum

With the many different Community groups you can get support from here, it’s not always possible to keep up to date with everything that’s being discussed. This blog is highlighting some of the recent discussions from the Soft tissue Sarcoma forum to help keep our members connected with each other. Although you may not share the same cancer type, there will probably be some similarities with the questions asked from emotional challenges and practical needs. There may be some featured discussions that you relate to in this blog so stay and have a read, you may find some comfort from knowing you're not alone with how you are feeling. “I’m sure these forums will help as well to connect with those in a similar situation.” Community member, Soft tissue Sarcoma forum What are members posting…

Megan- Online Community Team
Online Community downtime: Thursday 21st July 2022- 7am to 10am

There is some planned maintenance taking place on Macmillan’s website on Thursday 21st July, from 7am-10am. So that this essential maintenance can take place, the Online Community will experience some downtime. This means that members will not be able to log in, or join the Online Community, between 7 am - 10am On Thursday 21st July 2022. We know how important the Community is as a source of support for our members, so we always do our best to ensure the site is not unavailable for any longer than necessary. Please know that while the site is down, although you will not be able to create an account, log into the site or post, you will still be able to view the Community and read posts and discussions for support. We understand that this may impact members who rely on the Online Community…

Megan- Online Community Team
Managing cancer and side effects at work: Elvina’s story

Do you feel you have the right support at work? Lots of people affected by cancer, like Elvina, don’t always feel they have the support they need from their employer, manager, or from the sickness policies in place at work. Lots of people may feel worried about work when they are affected by cancer. Here in the Online Community, we’re featuring a new series working with Macmillan’s Digital Storytelling Project, where people affected by cancer have created their own videos to talk about their experiences. As July’s story of the month, Elvina is sharing her experiences of working while affected by cancer and what employers need to do better. “How am I going to get through this work shift today?” Elvina’s video, titled “You Look Well,” is about her experiences at work following her cancer…

Eliza -Online Community Team
Rebellious hope – Reflecting on the legacy of Dame Deborah James

Credit: Dan Williams / The Sun / News Licensing Here on the Community team, we were all very saddened to hear that Dame Deborah James had passed away from Bowel cancer at the end of June. After spending some time reflecting on what she meant to those affected by Bowel cancer, and thinking about her amazing legacy, we wanted to dedicate today’s Community News Blog to Deborah and all those who knew and loved her. Deborah was an incredible inspiration to so many and fought to raise awareness of Bowel cancer and the vital importance of breaking the taboo around talking about poo. Our Community members were understandably impacted by Deborah’s passing. Below are some of the many tributes for Deborah our members posted. We hope you will join us in keeping her family and loved ones in your thoughts…

Former Member
Changing Seasons - Online Community cancer support in 2022.

Summer is often thought of as a time associated with holidays and celebration, Autumn can be more of a time of reflection and transition. As the cold weather closes in and we all face the dreaded prospect of turning the heating on (given the current cost of living crisis), we’re wondering how you’re all feeling? Are you ready to start reflecting on 2022 yet? Or is it too early for all that? In today’s Community News Blog we’re rounding up this year’s blogs so far, sharing highlights and stories of real people affected by cancer that you might have missed. The start of the year had us thinking about New Beginnings , after a changeable few years to say the least. “Today I’m going to be open and not internalise my fear. It’s okay not to be okay.” Online Community member, New Beginnings Blog We…

Tom C - Online Community team
Breast cancer and femininity: Issy’s story

Did a breast cancer diagnosis change how you felt about yourself or your relationship with a partner? Macmillan’s Digital Storytelling Project is where people affected by cancer have created their own videos to talk about their experiences. Issy is one of our stories of the month for September, where we will be focusing on cancer, sex and our relationship with our bodies. Issy talks about her feelings about her body and sexuality before, during and after her diagnosis and treatment. Her video talks about her relationship and what helped her to feel connected with being intimate. “I was determined that cancer was not going to take away the person I was and was even more determined that my sense of femininity and sexuality would not be affected.” Issy’s story is called “When the lights…

Eliza -Online Community Team
Online Community downtime, Tuesday 14th June, 5am-10am

There is some planned maintenance taking place on Macmillan’s website on Tuesday 14th June, from 5am-10am. So that this essential maintenance can take place, the Online Community will experience some downtime. This means that members will not be able to log in, or join the Online Community, between 5am - 10am On Tuesday 14th June 2022. We know how important the Community is as a source of support for our members, so we always do our best to ensure the site is not unavailable for any longer than necessary. Please know that while the site is down, although you will not be able to create an account, log into the site or post, you will still be able to view the Community and read posts and discussions for support. We understand that this may impact members who rely on the Online Community…

Ellen - Macmillan
Cancer and covid as a deaf person: Eleni’s story

Do you feel like your cancer experience changed you? Here in the Online Community, we’re featuring a new series working with Macmillan’s Digital Storytelling Project, where people affected by cancer have created their own videos to talk about their experiences. For June’s Story of the Month, we’re featuring Eleni. Eleni has created a video to share their experience of receiving a cancer diagnosis as a deaf person. Their video is called ‘Will I still be the same?” Eleni wrote the following to describe what their video is about, in their own words: “The challenges of facing cancer through Covid as a deaf person. How I struggled to keep my identity during isolation and cancer treatment, and the realisation of how my own strength and connections with family, friends and the Deaf Cancer…

Eliza -Online Community Team
Online Community downtime- Thursday 30th June, 7am to 10am

There is some planned maintenance taking place on Macmillan’s website on Thursday 30th June, from 7am-10am. So that this essential maintenance can take place, the Online Community will experience some downtime. This means that members will not be able to log in, or join the Online Community, between 7 am - 10am On Thursday 30th June 2022. We know how important the Community is as a source of support for our members, so we always do our best to ensure the site is not unavailable for any longer than necessary. Please know that while the site is down, although you will not be able to create an account, log into the site or post, you will still be able to view the Community and read posts and discussions for support. We understand that this may impact members who rely on the Online Community…

Megan- Online Community Team