Community News - Macmillan Online Community

"How are you?" - Counselling support for people living with cancer

“How are you?” We all know this question can sometimes be a tricky one to answer. We also know it’s important to ask others how they are feeling, but don’t always take the time to ask ourselves how we are doing. Often, we brush off the question with a quick ‘Yes fine thanks, how’re you?’ but maybe it’s time to take a moment to really think about how you are feeling and whether you have the right emotional support in place for you. When you have been affected by cancer, answering this question can sometimes feel even harder. Receiving a cancer diagnosis can impact your mental health and emotional wellbeing. In today’s Community news blog, we are talking about what support is available to help you explore the answer to that important question… ‘How are you?’ Exploring how you are feeling…

Former Member
Being a partner and a carer: how cancer can affect relationships

A loved one being diagnosed with cancer can have just as big an emotional and practical impact as a personal diagnosis. This can have a greater impact if you also become a carer. Many members here on the Community team who are supporting a partner might want to do everything they can to help. But that doesn’t mean that you don’t need support too. Here in the Community News blog, we often say every diagnosis and experience can be different. That’s true for relationships too. For some people, a partner having a cancer diagnosis might not impact your relationship at all. For others, a cancer diagnosis can cause additional worries and difficulties in a relationship. You aren’t alone in what you’re going through, no matter how you feel. A cancer diagnosis can affect relationships in many ways…

Eliza -Online Community Team
Supporting yourself while supporting someone with incurable cancer (Part 1)

A loved one’s cancer diagnosis can have just as large an impact as a personal diagnosis. Our Cancer Information and Support Advisor, Jenna, is here to talk through some of the complicated emotions you might feel, and ways you can help yourself cope. December is a time where usually we might feel we ‘should’ be feeling positive and festive. I’m conscious that for so many this will be an incredibly difficult time. The shorter days and dark nights, not to mention current restrictions, are likely to have a real impact on our mood and our routines. This can leave many people supporting someone with incurable cancer feeling isolated. I want to reach out with a gentle reminder: although it can feel like it, you don’t have to go through this alone. It is important to look after yourself and remember…

Eliza -Online Community Team
Are you feeling lonely?

There’s a lot of conversations about loneliness recently as it’s been a discussion topic for mental health awareness week. Feeling lonely can affect your mental and health and w e often hear members of the Online Community talk about how lonely they feel. We’re talking about loneliness in this blog so why not stay and read more if you’re looking for some company, or to find others who are also feeling the same as you. The past couple of years during the coronavirus pandemic, most people have experienced loneliness as social interaction was stopped and we were told to stay at home to keep safe. For a lot of people, feelings of isolation and loneliness doesn’t just come from being physically alone, but something that can is often felt when you’re affected by cancer. “The last 12 months…

Megan- Online Community Team
Let's talk about cancer and hair loss

A side effect of some cancer treatments like chemotherapy, radiotherapy and targeted therapies might cause hair loss. Members often come to the Community looking for support or advice with hair and scalp issues. In this Community News Blog, we’ll be highlighting conversations in the Community around hair loss and hair re-growth. Your hair might feel like an important part of your appearance and identity. Often, when your hair looks good, you feel good. For some, losing their hair is one of the hardest parts of having treatment. For others, it is not as bad as they expected. If you’re worried about hair loss, or have questions around hair care, scalp cooling, wigs, hats, turbans and scarves the Community is here to help. You can find out what to expect from people who’ve been through it…

Steph - Online Community Team
Sharing scalp cooling experiences

There’s no one size fits all when it comes to cancer treatment and dealing with side effects . Although there can be common side effects such as hair loss, sickness and fatigue , not everyone will experience them. Hair loss seems to be a side effect that many people worry about when having chemotherapy treatment and the use of a scalp cooling system (also referred to as the cold cap ) may have been mentioned to you. If you’re wanting to hear from those who have used the scalp cooling system ( cold cap ), or are curious about what scalp cooling is, then this blog has what you are looking for. You can also find our most recent blog about scalp cooling, hair loss and regrowth here. Here on the Online Community we often see questions like the following posted on the site. If you have a…

Megan- Online Community Team
Caring for a partner with a brain tumour – a Community member’s story

Wee Me is a member of the Online Community and Macmillan volunteer. Her husband was diagnosed with a Glioblastoma brain tumour in September 2020. Here on the Community, there's lots of support for carers and loved ones of those diagnosed with cancer. We have our 'Carers only' group and our 'Family and friends' group where members like Wee Me find and offer support. Following on from a conversation in the ‘Carers only’ group where members talked about what they wish they’d known at the beginning , Wee Me is sharing her family’s story from diagnosis, to today. So, March is Brain Tumour Awareness month …. if only our family didn’t have to be so aware. At 7.52am on Wednesday 26 th August 2020, I was sitting at the kitchen table quietly finishing my breakfast. At 7.53am, as I got up from the…

Eliza -Online Community Team
Stoma series: tips from others living with a stoma

In the first part of the Stoma series , there was lots of reassurance offered in the different discussions and information of how to find further support. In this blog, we’re highlighting some of the practical tips that our members have shared to manage their stoma. It’s natural to have questions about stoma care and the Online Community has supportive spaces to get guidance from others who are also living with a stoma. “It’s very early days for you and it’s great you’ve found this group. There’s so many experts in managing a stoma here and I have found great tips. My Stoma nurses were amazing and really got me sorted with the right products and advice.” Community member, Bowel (colon and rectal cancer forum), ‘ rectal cancer’ discussion thread “So pleased I’ve found this group. I had…

Megan- Online Community Team
"If you look good, it helps you to feel good" - Community member Rhapsody's tips for hair, skin, nails and beauty during cancer treatment

Community member Rhapsody (pictured above) is here today to share her tips on hair, skin care and looking good during cancer treatment. After going through treatment for breast cancer, Rhapsody thought that the Community might benefit from learning about some of the things she feels have helped her. She says “if you look good, it helps you to feel good” and thinks that having the right support in place is important to feelings of well-being whilst undergoing cancer treatments. Rhapsody adds that this is a personal account and not intended as recommendations for any particular products or services, rather a list of what has helped her . Hair loss "When my hair started falling out two weeks into chemotherapy treatment, my scalp felt like my hair was being tugged all over. It was actually…

Steph - Online Community Team
What does the festive season mean to you?

As the holiday season is in full swing, we know that this time of year can look different for different families. The traditions and customs that you follow can vastly differ from the ways others spend time with loved ones. The varying pressures and expectations at this time of year can lead to a mix of emotions for people affected by cancer. However you like to celebrate or honour tradition in your family during the holiday period, the Online Community is here as a source of cancer support. In today’s Community News Blog, we are talking about managing the festive period. We will be looking at the different ways people cope with difficult emotions at a time when others are often celebrating, or at least seem to be. Cancer support during the festive period Cancer can have a large impact at…

Tom C - Online Community team
Coming to terms with a cancer diagnosis

This blog is looking at how our Community members process the news of a cancer diagnosis. Some mourn and grieve for the life they once knew before being impacted by cancer and some find comfort from having the answers they may have been waiting a long time for. However you are feeling, you're not alone. There's others talking about how they they are coping here on the Community so stay and read this blog to hopefully draw some comfort from these shared experiences. Do you find yourself mourning for the life before cancer? The term mourning is usually described as an expression of sorrow and is typically used in the context of someone passing away. When someone dies, you mourn this loss. For some, when they are diagnosed with cancer, it can feel like you have lost a part or version of you…

Megan- Online Community Team
Random act of kindness

Today is Random act of kindness day ! But what is a random act of kindness? It is an unexpected act of helpfulness often by a stranger to spread joy and happiness into the world without any personal gain. Has anyone ever offered you a random act of kindness or have you shown kindness to someone recently? Tell us about this in the comment box below, we love hearing your stories. Doing something nice for someone doesn't cost a lot of time or money. It's the small meaningful things in life that can make a big difference. Here are a few other suggestions for random acts of kindness: Call a friend that you haven’t spoken to for a while Send flowers to a friend Offer to pick up some groceries for someone Send someone a message that will make them smile Offer to babysit for a friend…

Megan- Online Community Team