Community News - Macmillan Online Community

Sunita’s experience with post-surgical menopause, chemotherapy and hair loss.

Sunita was diagnosed with Ovarian cancer and is sharing her experience with post-surgical menopause, chemotherapy and coping with her changing body image. There can be a whole range of things to consider when you go through treatment and everybody’s experience is so unique to them. Different aspects of body image are often talked about on the Community and Sunita is sharing her personal journey in the hope it can help you. As a trained makeup artist, Sunita also shares some of the things she did which you may find helpful. My whole world – and plans for a family – were shattered in April 2016, when I was suddenly diagnosed with ovarian cancer, having shown no previous symptoms of the disease. Cancer is still stigmatised in the Asian community, from my experience, with many people unwilling…

Megan- Online Community Team
Help when you’re a helper: Dennis’ story

Dennis’ wife Winnie was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia. Like many people here on the Online Community, Dennis was her carer for many years, alongside looking after their son and family. Dennis struggled with his mental health and found support from Macmillan. After Winnie sadly died, Dennis became a volunteer nine years ago and continues to support other people living with cancer. Today here in Community News, Dennis is sharing his story and experiences as a carer, partner and how he went from needing help, to being the helper. Dennis’ shared his story as video, titled “Help to be a helper”. You can watch Dennis’ video below and hear him share his experiences. Dennis’ video has subtitles. You can also read Dennis’ story within this blog. www.youtube.com/watch Dennis' Story: Help…

Eliza -Online Community Team
Can we talk about vulvar and vaginal cancers?

Can we talk openly about vulvas and vaginas? It’s Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month and we’re taking the opportunity to raise awareness of the rarer gynae cancers. We understand that many people find sexual organs to be an embarrassing or awkward subject. Many people might not even know the correct names for these body parts. So what happens if you get diagnosed with cancer (or a pre-cancerous condition) ‘down there’? We’re highlighting how women, trans men and non-binary people can find support from the Community. It’s a place where you can be completely anonymous and chat with others in similar circumstances. Whether you’ve just been diagnosed with vulval/vaginal cancer, need emotional support or practical tips to help with healing after surgery, you’re likely to find someone…

Steph - Online Community Team
Kath's bowel cancer journey and life with a stoma

There are many discussions here on the Community about how a cancer diagnosis can affect someone’s life. Kath is here to share her experience of being diagnosed with bowel cancer 11 years ago and the physical and emotional challenges that she has faced. There can be some comfort gained from reading a shared experience which is why Kath is sharing her story in hope that it can provide support to others. If you read Kath’s story and want to read other personal experiences, you can find many different discussions in the Bowel cancer forum . Eleven years ago, I was diagnosed with Bowel (rectal) cancer. I'd visited my Doctor several times the previous year as I was having to go to the toilet more frequently. Sometimes there was blood in my stools, and I was told I'd had piles. I wasn't given…

Megan- Online Community Team
Sex and cancer uncovered – your needs are worth talking about!

Mentioning the Unmentionable If you ask the average person about what part sex and intimacy plays in their life, it wouldn’t be unusual to see them curl up like a pretzel with embarrassment. Despite being the most natural and healthy thing in the world, it’s a topic often relegated to the ‘unmentionable’ pile. Although sex and intimacy are a fundamental part of the human experience, the topic seems to inspire a unique level of shame when trying to talk about it openly. Unlike talking about our favourite foods or our preferred sleep routine, talking about sex can lead to red faces, giggles, and a desperate effort to escape the discussion completely. For someone affected by a cancer diagnosis, the topic becomes vastly more complex. It isn’t just the social taboo of sex usually being a highly…

Matthew - Online Community Team
Going back to work during or after cancer: Diana’s story

Lots of members on the Online Community must navigate when and if to go back to work. If you’re not sure what to do about work, you’re not alone. Every month, we’re featuring someone from Macmillan’s Digital Storytelling project. The Digital Storytelling Project is a way for people to share their experiences as a video. Today, we’re featuring Diana. Diana talks about her experiences going back to work. Diana is sharing her story today to help others who are considering when to go back to work. Diana decided to go back to work after cancer treatment because she was feeling lonely. Work can look different for everyone affected by cancer. Some people may want to go back to work as soon as they can. Some people may need a longer recovery. It’s important to make sure you feel you have the right…

Eliza -Online Community Team
Stoma series- Reassurance from the Community

Have you been told you may need a stoma after treatment or surgery? Are you already living with a stoma? This blog is a collection of supportive and shared experiences from members who have had, or currently live with a stoma. If you’re looking for some reassurance, you may just find it here. Even if you’re not looking for reassurance about living with a stoma, you’ll still find lots of warm peer support. It can be comforting to know there’s a whole Community of people who can understand what you’re facing. We see everyday how much support our members give each other by being there to listen, and talk about each other’s experiences. Being told that you need a colostomy, ileostomy urostomy or a laryngectomy stoma, can cause a range of feelings. You may have been given different options by…

Megan- 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
Hair care, hair loss and styling tips from the Community

Are you having treatment and worried about losing your hair? Or do you have questions about styling hair changes? This blog includes some recent experiences and suggestions from Community members across our different groups. There are some great support resources and information to help you cope with hair loss, and we will include some of these towards the end of the blog. We know that hearing the experiences of others can be invaluable when learning how to manage side effects like hair loss, hair styling and maintenance, so we hope you will find the following helpful. Hair loss Coming to the forums to ask questions about hair loss can help you manage and process any hair loss side effects of treatment: “After chemotherapy, when the hair starts growing back, has anyone had experience…

Megan- Online Community Team
"...despair, madness, the darkest if thoughts. They are all temporary." - World Mental Health Day 2019

Today, October 10 th marks World Mental Health Day – a day for global mental health education, awareness, and an advocacy against its social stigma. One of our members who suffered with depression as a result of his diagnosis, Greg, has agreed to share some of his thoughts in a 3-part Community News series entitled ‘Unseeing the bus’. ‘Unseeing the bus’ carries an incredibly positive message for anyone struggling with their mental health. I’ve shared below a few quotes Greg sent me from an earlier diary entry, to show how low Greg felt prior to writing the piece. Our hopes are that for anyone feeling this low right now, that ‘Unseeing the bus’ shows you can “…still come out the other side and feel like yourself again…” (Greg). “I hate hospital. I hate my condition. I hate every single…

Former Member
Breast cancer awareness month

October is Breast cancer awareness month around the UK and as part of this, we'd like to feature what’s discussed in our Breast cancer forums here on the Community. The different Breast cancer forums have around 11,725 members who offer each other support every day, including all hours of the night. If you’ve visited the Breast cancer forums you will have seen there’s lots of discussions about symptoms, treatment options and side effects. There’s also lots of friendly and reassuring support so stay and read the rest of the blog if you’re thinking of joining, or if you’re looking for some support. “It’s always helpful just to know you’re not alone and to talk about it so thank you for replying.” Community member, BRACA positive forum “I think being able to talk to someone that has been…

Megan- Online Community Team
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