Community News - Macmillan Online Community

Talking about PIP (Personal Independence Payment) on the Online Community and Macmillan's campaign to 'Pay PIP Now'

On the Online Community, lots of members have been talking about PIP . ‘ PIP ’ is short for Personal Independence Payment , a benefit for people aged 16 to State Pension age. It is for people who have problems with daily living or moving around. Some people with a cancer diagnosis may experience difficulties managing day-to-day with daily living tasks and could be eligible to claim PIP . If you’d like to find out more about PIP and whether you might be able to claim, here's where you can find information about PIP from Macmillan Cancer Support. You might have heard in the media about some people’s difficulties in claiming PIP and delays in PIP payments . Find out more on PIP delays and catch up on Community members’ experiences in this blog. If you’d like to support anyone experiencing…

Steph - Online Community Team
Supporting each other through dying, loss and bereavement: Linda’s story

“From the greatest loss of my life, came the birth of a new beginning and a new way I could help my community.” As Linda says in her video and many people say on the Online Community, you may feel that nothing can prepare you for your loved one’s final days and coping with bereavement. Many people may feel they’re not sure what to expect when a loved one is dying. As part of Macmillan’s Digital Storytelling Project, Linda has created a video to share her experience supporting her mum through end of life. She also talks about her decision to found a charity, No One Dies Alone Ayrshire , to support people who are at the end of their life and their families. We’re sharing Linda’s story this month as part of National Grief Awareness Week . Linda’s video is called “A Hand to Hold”, which you…

Eliza -Online Community Team
Coping with the last celebrations with your loved one

When a loved one has an incurable cancer diagnosis, it may be hard not to think about what might be the last time. The last holiday season, the last birthday. Here in Macmillan’s Online Community, we’re here to help you through what may be the hardest days and time of year. Wee Me’s husband was diagnosed with a Glioblastoma brain tumour in September 2020. She has previously shared her experience as a carer and family member on Community News. In today’s blog, Wee Me is talking about how she’s learned to navigate and cope with “the lasts.” “My husband’s initial prognosis in September 2020 was that he had 12-15 months left with us. The question “is this the last…?” reared its scary head several times during those all too quick months.” The festive season will be upon us before we know it…

Eliza -Online Community Team
Holly’s Cancer Poems: Cancer and money (Part 4)

Over the course of Holly’s Cancer Poems, we’ve gone through diagnosis, surgery and chemotherapy. Holly was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2005, and her poems explore her emotions and experiences around cancer at the time. Within today’s blog, Holly talks about her experience of radiotherapy. Holly also talks about the other impacts of cancer such as higher bills and living costs. This is the last instalment of Holly’s cancer poems. If you’ve been enjoying the series, why not let Holly know in the comments below? If you’d like to catch up on Holly’s poems, you can view her previous blogs below: World Poetry Day: Holly’s Cancer Poems (Part 1) Holly’s Cancer Poems: Coping with chemotherapy (Part 2) Holly’s Cancer Poems: Finding support and talking about cancer (Part 3) …

Eliza -Online Community Team
Holly’s Cancer Poems: Finding support and talking about cancer (Part 3)

Holly’s collection of cancer poems were written following her breast cancer diagnosis in January 2005. Her poems talk about her experience of diagnosis, treatment including surgery and treatment, side effects and talking to her sons about cancer. In today’s blog, Holly talks about explaining cancer to children and saying thank you to the people that helped her through. Holly’s collection is called “Holly’s cancer poems…The truth behind my smile.” You can catch up with Holly’s story so far by reading her previous blogs on Community News: World Poetry Day: Holly’s Cancer Poems (Part 1) Holly’s Cancer Poems: Coping with chemotherapy (Part 2) If you’d like to go straight to Holly’s poems, just use the buttons below: Holly's poems: The future Pterodactyl in my tummy Last…

Eliza -Online Community Team
Songs are therapy too - music and cancer experiences from the Online Community

Music can touch our hearts and uplift our spirits during challenging times. In this blog, we delve into the impact of music on individuals affected by cancer. Through stories and experiences shared by our Community members, we explore how music has become a source of solace, hope, and healing. Music for lifting spirits Our community members in the Living with incurable cancer forum often express the benefits of music, and how it lifts their spirits. One member shared their experience, highlighting a song from “The Greatest Showman” that resonated with them. "Though now blasting out is music from The Greatest Showman, not a normal pick, l have to admit, always, when in a serious mood, as it lifts me up, and the song “This is Me”, sums up so much at times." Community member…

Dylan - Online Community Team
Catching up with the Bladder cancer forum- May 2023

With May being Bladder cancer awareness month, we thought we would catch up with our Bladder cancer form to see what questions have been asked recently, and what experiences have been shared. If you are affected by bladder cancer, this blog is a snapshot of the support you can find by joining the bladder cancer forum. Contents Diagnosis and waiting for treatment Needing reassurance and emotional support Coping with the aftereffects of treatment Practical support Supporting someone with Bladder cancer Diagnosis and waiting for treatment Reading about the lived experiences of others, and what their treatment decisions are can provide lots of reassurance and comfort. The power of peer support can help you to feel less alone when processing a cancer diagnosis. One member…

Megan- Online Community Team
Online Community downtime: Wednesday 31st May 2023- 7.30am to 9am

There is some planned maintenance taking place on Macmillan’s website on Wednesday 31st May, from 7.30am-9am. 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 7.30am - 9am on Wednesday 31st May 2023. 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…

Su - Macmillan
Myeloma and a stem cell transplant: Mary’s story

A cancer diagnosis can be a shock. Thinking about treatment may feel overwhelming. If you’re feeling nervous or worried, you’re not alone. Mary was diagnosed with myeloma in 2020, which is a type of blood cancer. This can also be known as bone marrow cancer. Mary has shared her experience of diagnosis, having a stem cell transplant and chemotherapy through her video. Mary’s story talks about cancer experiences many people might go through, even if you or your loved one has a different diagnosis. Mary shares what receiving her diagnosis was like. Mary also talks about hair loss and adjusting to being back at home after a hospital stay. She also shares her experience of finding support around her mental wellbeing. If you’ve been diagnosed with myeloma, there’s lots of support available on the…

Eliza -Online Community Team
Peer support on the Online Community – the year so far

As we move into Spring it’s a good time to reflect on where we’ve been and where we are going. Sharing some of the amazing emotional support and kindness you have been offering to others. We’ll also look at some of the changes we’ve made. The Online Community team would like to thank you for making the Community what it is, offering kindness and support to each other. We currently have over 68,000 members and over 7,100 have join this year so far. You have posted over 45,000 messages of hope, support and encouragement already this year. Your words offer so much when others may be feeling lonely or scared. People find a lot of care and support when going through a cancer treatment. Family members and friends can also find a lot of support when helping their loved ones through cancer. Here…

Su - Macmillan
Naveed's story living with a rare heart cancer

Naveed and his wife, Naveen, talk in their mother tongue, Urdu, about Naveed's diagnosis and some of the stigmas still prominent in their community. This video is part of Macmillan’s mother tongue project, (4 minutes and 19 seconds). We hope to feature different lived experiences here on the Online Community to represent different ethnic cultures and communities, so nobody feels they are facing cancer alone. Please see an English transcript written below. There are also English subtitles available when watching the video. For additional support information in other languages, scroll to the end of this blog page. Naveen : “Because treatment was so delayed, it felt like at any time, it could be his last night or last day for us. So that was incredibly hard. I wish I was stronger at…

Megan- Online Community Team