Community News - Macmillan Online Community

" I promised myself to latch on to the simple essence of being alive."- Unseeing the bus: Greg's story #3

We are back today with the third and final part of Greg’s series ‘ Unseeing the Bus’ . Greg has written this 3 part series for the Community News Blog to share his experience of depression after receiving a cancer diagnosis. Greg writes honestly and openly about how he felt during this time. Missed the last two posts in the series? Why not catch up on part one and two now? Unseeing the bus: #3 For part 3, I was going to write, “what bus?” and leave it at that. It might have been funny. And I suppose there is an element of truth in it. "...I no longer see that old, heavy foe hurtling towards me at top speed..." A lot of the time, I no longer see that old, heavy foe hurtling towards me at top speed down the quaint, narrow streets of my mind. Most days I really don’t think about the…

Former Member
Let's keep talking...

In Macmillan’s cancer information blog back in November, featuring Men’s Health Awareness, we talked about how important it was to keep the conversation around men’s health and well-being flowing throughout the year. According to research, men often find it particularly difficult to talk about cancer, let alone ask for support. The Online Community provides an anonymous forum where people can come and talk about the physical, financial and emotional effects of cancer with others who understand. We know that talking to family and friends about cancer can be hard, so if you’re worried about how your diagnosis will affect them, or just need someone to talk to, the Community is here 24/7. Recently, through the guest blog series in Community news, we featured this lovely couple’s experience when…

Steph - Online Community Team
Coping with bereavement

Saying goodbye may always be a difficult moment. Sometimes, we may not want to say goodbye to friends after a lovely day out, other times we may use it prematurely to get out of an awkward situation. Then comes what some may class as the most difficult goodbye, the one where it’s time to say farewell to a loved one forever. The loving connections we make throughout our journey called life, be it our siblings, our friends, our loved ones and our children. It may become almost impossible to say goodbye when it’s their time. It can be a difficult thing to process. Realising that your loved one may not have long left. We may all eventually experience loss but in this blog, we will take a focus on the ways that members of the Community, may find helpful when coping with grief. Seeing a loved…

Syed - Macmillan
Keeping safe in the sun.

May 6 th -12 th was Sun Awareness week in the UK and as many of us are self-isolating, furloughing or working from home, it’s a good time to remind ourselves to stay safe in the sun. Although it’s unlikely any of us living in the UK will come into contact with foreign climates over the next few months, many will end up spending more time outside. Whether you’re taking the time to relax or work in your garden; taking a walk instead of the gym, if the sun is out, please do stay aware. Staying safe in the sun can reduce your risk of some cancers. It can also be particularly important for people going through some cancer treatments to stay out of the sun. '...when I was on chemo one of the nurses said to stay out of the sun. And then when I had my radiotherapy planning meeting they said of…

Steph - Online Community Team
Pancreatic cancer awareness and support information

Have you or someone you love been diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer? If so, then this blog will be useful for you to read. We’re sharing support information and highlighting some of the conversations members of the Community have had recently. November is Pancreatic Cancer awareness month, so we’d like to take some time to show you that the Online Community is here to support you every day of the year. Even if you’re not affected by Pancreatic cancer, you may be interested to hear how members of the Community support each other. What is Pancreatic cancer? The video below (02:21 minutes) is an abdominal surgeon name Charles, talking about Pancreatic cancer. If you need more information and guidance around symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options for pancreatic cancer, please visit the…

Megan- Online Community Team
Travel Insurance and Cancer - your questions answered by an expert

The importance of getting the right cover Are you planning on taking a holiday this year? Perhaps you're looking for a little extra summer sun? Or maybe a winter escape for when the weather turns chilly? Whatever you're planning, there are some travel essentials that no holidaymaker should leave home without. Packing the right travel documents, currency, and clothing for your trip is very important. But what about your insurance? Have you checked your travel insurance plan covers your specific holiday itinerary? Does it cover your specific health needs? If you or someone you're traveling with has a cancer diagnosis, it is vital you have the insurance cover to match. Meet Fiona This is Fiona. She loves to travel. Fiona has first-hand experience of what it's like to be impacted by…

Matthew - Online Community Team
Lived experiences of dating with cancer

We all deserve support, love and kindness in our lives, especially when living with cancer as you need emotional and practical support. Along with many other practical challenges cancer brings dating is one of them. Cancer treatment may have changed some of your personal relationships, your appearance and self-confidence, so you are worried about meeting new people. When the time feels right to look for a new relationship, you may find yourself asking questions like these Community members: “So, what does everyone do Re dating post breast or any cancer? Body not the same, medication has not so nice side effects and this effects various parts of my body. I work full time and have varying degrees of fatigue. Where do people go to date similar or match/companion with people who 'get it'?”…

Megan- Online Community Team
“It is a juggling act being a cancer patient and a parent.” – Priyanka’s story

Priyanka was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer at the age of 36 in 2022. Priyanka lives in Aylesbury, with her husband, Manoj and two daughters, Keya and Shriyana who were 4 years old and 2 years old at the time of the diagnosis. Priyanka is a qualified teacher. Since, being diagnosed with cancer, she has gone on to become a life coach for children, supporting them through life’s challenges. Also, a published author, Priyanka has penned a heartfelt children’s book, When Mummy Had Cancer. Priyanka’s story Your world falls apart when you hear the words, you have cancer. Mine did too! You automatically think it’s a death sentence. When you have two young children, it’s terrifying. My first reaction was, what will happen to my girls? I want to be there to see them grow up. Experience…

Megan- Online Community Team
“One night I was woken up with an odd feeling.” – Alyson’s story

This week in Community news we’re sharing Alyson’s story and experiences with Renal cell carcinoma, a form of kidney cancer, from her first diagnosis to today. At the age of 20 years old, I emigrated to South Africa with my then husband Gerard. At the age of 40 years old I was working as a Logistics Manager for Howden Safanco and had been divorced for 2 years. I had by this time two daughters, Kimberley (16 years old) and Katherine (15 years old) and I was holding down a very busy lifestyle. "One night I was woken up with an odd feeling." I started feeling very tired and had a niggly pain in my right kidney, which I thought could be the start of kidney stones or something. I wasn’t one for running to the doctor all the time so I just put up with it. The pain wasn’t excruciating. One night…

Eliza -Online Community Team
Let's talk about HPV

After last week’s Cervical screening awareness blog ‘ Overcoming smear fear with the Online Community ’, we wanted to talk about the human papilloma viruses (more commonly known as HPV). HPV can be detected in cervical and anal screenings and today we’re highlighting some of the most recently asked questions about here on the Community. If you need more information, please visit the Macmillan website here or get in touch with the Macmillan Support Line by calling 0808 808 00 00, emailing or using live webchat during the hours of 8am-8pm. When you have been for a cervical or anal screening test, understanding the test results can sometimes be confusing because of the language used, or it not being clear what is going to happen next. Members turn to each other on the Community to support one…

Megan- Online Community Team
Community in Bloom

We’re starting to see the first signs of spring and welcoming the brighter evenings. You may remember the ‘Winter picture festival’ that was featured on the Community cancer forum at the end of last year but because we received such great feedback from members that took part, and others who loved seeing the pictures posted, we have decided to launch our very own ‘Community in bloom’. This will be featured in our Express yourself group so please do join and get involved. This is a space for members to share springtime images of wildlife, gardens, seasonal foods and cooking, alongside anything which fits within the springtime theme. It’s a chance to show off your creativity if you enjoy crafts or have taken a picture which could brighten up the site. You’re invited to post as many images…

Megan- Online Community Team
Bereavement Support in the Online Community

On this day of remembrance across the UK, we’re talking about bereavement support in this Community News blog. We understand that the death of someone close to you isn’t something you ‘get over’. It’s something you attempt to come to terms with. The Community can be a comforting place to share your feelings and get bereavement support from people who understand. “I just don't know how to shake this feeling, it’s been a year and it feels raw now, it didn't feel that way last year I think I was just in shock, but I can't help but feel so lost without her.” - Mario189, bereaved family and friends group. Learning to live with your grief can mean so many different things to different people. There’s no set period of time in which you should expect to ‘feel better’. “No one knows how…

Steph - Online Community Team