Community News - Macmillan Online Community

Spring into our Online Community Quiz

Welcome to our spring themed quiz Members have been talking about springtime across the Online Community. Whether it's blossom coming out on the trees or the longer days, there's lots of positivity in the air. Even if you're not feeling particularly positive right now, you might find light-hearted distractions to be helpful. After receiving feedback that many of you have enjoyed a chance to relax and engage with light-hearted content, w e've created a spring themed quiz for the Community today. How to play the interactive quiz Use the voting buttons to choose your answer from the multiple choices shown. You are welcome to try all ten questions, or just a few. Once you have voted for your answer, you will be able to see how many others chose the same answer as you. Where can…

Steph - Online Community Team
"...don't immediately start to focus on the worst-case scenario..." - Meet the Champs: latchbrook

Following last month's 'Meet the Champs' Q&A with MikeO , this month we meet latchbrook , who’s been with the Community since early 2017. You'll find latchbrook champing our Melanoma , Skin cancer and Travel insurance groups, and also welcoming newbies to the Community in our New to the Community group, and giving them a ‘nudge’ in the right direction - what a busy Champion she is! How long have you been using the Online Community, and what brought you to the site? I have been an active member of the site since the beginning of 2017, although I had lurked around a bit before feeling confident enough to post. I’d been diagnosed with a malignant melanoma in November 2016 completely out of the blue and wanted to find more information about this type of cancer. I didn’t think to look…

Former Member
“AI is a really useful tool if used correctly.”

Advances in technology means Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being tried and tested to improve the way we live our lives. Some people use online AI tools to find information. From finding opening times for shops and looking for travel information when planning a trip. When it comes to cancer care, there is lots of information AI can provide, but do you know what information can be trusted? In this blog, we explore how Community members have used Artificial intelligence, and how AI is being used in cancer care. What is AI? Artificial intelligence (AI) is technology that helps computers perform a variety of tasks in ways that used to require human intelligence. From understanding language, analysing data, and even providing information. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is both part of the problem…

Megan- Online Community Team
Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Staying safe and looking after each other

Hi everyone, Blankets, cups of tea and biscuits are in order in this uncertain and perhaps stressful month. Discussions about coronavirus (COVID-19) are everywhere on the news and here in the Community, so we wanted to collate some key tips to help you navigate the coming weeks and to stay safe. The government has issued this advice for those who are particularly vulnerable due to their health. This includes advice for carers, advice on hospital or GP appointments and mental wellbeing. This is being updated regularly and we would recommend checking this on a daily basis if you are worried about taking the right steps to stay safe. Macmillan have also provided some information and answered some key questions around cancer and coronavirus (COVID-19) . Some of us may be experiencing confusion…

Eliza -Online Community Team
Navigating life after losing a loved one

Having recently lost her grandmother, Marie got in touch with myself and the team to share some tips and advice that helped her cope with the loss. Off the back of this, she agreed to put a blog together in the hope that it might be a source of support to users of the site who've perhaps lost a loved one to cancer. Losing someone you love inevitably means reframing your life in some respects. When you’re grieving and in the process of learning new ways of thinking and acting, your world can feel crushingly complex, especially if you need to make sizable lifestyle adjustments. Consider this practical advice for finding your way through major transitions without becoming overwhelmed. Workplace woes Returning to work after losing someone you love can be extremely challenging, especially…

Former Member
Food unites us all.

During this time of crisis, it may be hard to see the positives, but one thing I’ve noticed is that more people seem to be enjoying home cooking. Whether you’re lucky enough to be sitting down more regularly as a family together; virtually sharing a special meal with a loved one via video chat; or simply chatting with other members on the Community, food is something that unites us all. Community members have been chatting in this thread about baking, whether a distraction or necessity, bread is often a popular choice. According to Community member ‘Shazam’, kneading is good exercise for the lymphatic system!However, we understand that when you have cancer, it can affect your relationship with food. Member Hattykat suggests chemo can put you off your favourite foods: "I gave up coffee…

Steph - Online Community Team
“Everyone needs time to feel crappy and sorry for themselves.” - Family and friends

Our Online Community’s a real ‘Community’. However you’re affected by cancer, the Community’s a place where you can ask questions, and talk through your thoughts and feelings with people who understand what you’re going through. For family and friends, a diagnosis can have a huge impact of them emotionally, and also stretch relationships and support available within family and friendship groups. Whilst it might not always feel a priority, it’s so important for these people to take care of themselves and ensure they’re getting the support they might need. For these reasons, the Community has its Family and friends group. Here are a few recent highlights from the group to illustrate the support available: Having a bad day – a discussion that’s been running just shy of 3 years. Discussions…

Former Member
Private Messaging Update

Good morning everyone. We just wanted to let you know that our private messaging function is up and running again. We know how important this area is to our members. Not only as a way of keeping in touch privately with your friends, but also as a method of contacting our team for support. We are so sorry for the inconvenience and would like to thank you for your patience. There is some useful step by step guidance and short tutorial videos in our Help Pages to help you send private messages. As always, our team is available to support you via private messaging the Moderator account or via email community@macmillan.org.uk . Please do not hesitate to get in touch. Best wishes Rebecca, Meg, Matt, Dylan, Steph, David, and Syed Online Community Team.

Moderator - Macmillan Community
Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month

Did you know that November is Pancreatic cancer awareness month? Around 9,600 people are diagnosed with pancreas cancer in the UK each year. Here in the Online Community, the “Pancreatic cancer” forum has over 2400 members. This November, we wanted to shed light on the amazing support they offer 365 days a year. In 2020 alone, the “Pancreatic cancer” forum has had over 13 million views. Across 2019, members posted 1192 replies to posts in the group. That’s 1192 offers of support, sharing experiences, and care. Our members are here every day, to reassure anyone with who has been diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer, that they’re not alone. “…rest assured on this forum you will never be alone and i found the cancer nurses/doctors are always happy to discuss any concerns you may have” Kevatvinegarhill…

Eliza -Online Community Team
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
Community this or that quiz- Coffee morning

We want to bring our Online Community together to connect and have some light hearted fun during September, as it is the hallmark month for Macmillan’s World’s biggest coffee morning. Find the coffee morning this or that quiz in this blog. Last week, we posted the Bringing the Community Together blog, where details of why Macmillan's world's biggest coffee morning is important and how the Community has supported people affected by cancer over the years. Read the ‘ Bringing the Community together- Virtual coffee morning ’ blog here. Virtual coffee morning This year is the 35th year anniversary of the World’s biggest coffee morning, which continues to make a difference to support everyone affected by cancer. The Online Community’s virtual Coffee morning brings our members together to…

Megan- Online Community Team
Technical problems on the Community

As you may be aware, the Online Community wasn’t quite working this morning (20 June). The Community is now back up and running and should be working as normal for everyone. We're so sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused as we really understand that the Community is an important source of support for many members. If you are continuing to have any technical problems, such as being unable to post on the site, please let the Community team know via email to community@macmillan.org.uk . Please note we might not be able to fix all technical problems immediately. However, we’ll do our best to help everyone as soon as possible. If you’re having any issues accessing the Community and would really like to talk to someone for some emotional support, please remember you can contact our…

Eliza -Online Community Team