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
'Treasure every moment daily, move on with head held high, breast cancer has been overcome, it’s now with joy I cry.' - My journey through breast cancer in verse and word' - Vol 4

Today here on the Community News we wanted to share with you the final volume of our series ‘My journey through breast cancer in verse and word’ by Amanda-Jayne. Amanda-Jayne was diagnosed with Breast cancer in June 2019 and used poetry and journaling to diarise her experience throughout. Amanda-Jayne has very kindly sent through her poetry and writing to us here and we are pleased to have brought you this series detailing her experience. In her writing Amanda-Jayne talks openly about her thoughts and feelings through diagnosis and treatment. If you missed the last volume of Amanda-Jayne’s blog, click here to catch up. 21st August 2019 Life is good, getting a bit bored being at home but am still healing internally so need to be patient and rest and allow this to happen. Two more weeks and…

Former Member
Cancer and shielding

At the start of the pandemic, people with certain medical conditions were asked to shield to reduce the risk of getting coronavirus. Shielding means staying at home at all times and many members of our Community were asked to shield during the height of the pandemic. Since then shielding guidance has changed for some, and with lots of information in the media about shielding, it’s understandable to have questions and concerns. However, it’s important that you are getting answers to your questions from the right sources such as the NHS website or the Government website . Here on the Community team we know that a lot of our members have had questions about shielding, and we wanted to put some information together to help. Do remember you can find up to date information on coronavirus and…

Former Member
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
"...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
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
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
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
Super Surgeons- A Chance at Life

Did you watch series one of Super Surgeons on Channel 4? If so, you may be interested to hear that series two, Super Surgeons - 'A Chance at Life' , airs tonight on Channel 4 at 9pm. Macmillan is partnering again with Channel 4 for series 2 of the docuseries "Super Surgeons – A Chance At Life". The series follows patients having ground-breaking surgery at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust in London. Each of the hour-long episodes highlights the impact their cancer diagnosis has on all areas of their lives. The series features audio clips of calls to our colleagues on the Macmillan Support Line . You can watch the episodes on Channel 4 at 9pm on Tuesdays, from 18 June to 9 July. Or you can catch up anytime on Channel 4's on demand service All 4 . Also featured in the series are short…

Megan- Online Community Team
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

Awake and up all night?

We know that cancer can sometimes cause sleepless nights. Join our Cancer Chat forum for some company here in the 'Awake and up all night' thread.

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