Community News - Macmillan Online Community

Changing Seasons - Online Community cancer support in 2022.

Summer is often thought of as a time associated with holidays and celebration, Autumn can be more of a time of reflection and transition. As the cold weather closes in and we all face the dreaded prospect of turning the heating on (given the current cost of living crisis), we’re wondering how you’re all feeling? Are you ready to start reflecting on 2022 yet? Or is it too early for all that? In today’s Community News Blog we’re rounding up this year’s blogs so far, sharing highlights and stories of real people affected by cancer that you might have missed. The start of the year had us thinking about New Beginnings , after a changeable few years to say the least. “Today I’m going to be open and not internalise my fear. It’s okay not to be okay.” Online Community member, New Beginnings Blog We…

Tom C - Online Community team
"For now I feel lucky that I have great support around me to face whatever comes my way." - Laura's story for International Brain Tumour Awareness Week

This week (26 th October – 2 nd November) marks International Brain Tumour Awareness Week. To highlight this in today’s Community News Blog Laura is sharing her story about how she coped when she faced a brain tumour diagnosis in 2016. Laura has also been helping support people by sharing her experience of diagnosis on the Brain Tumour Research website. Brain Tumour Research is a national charity which is dedicated to raising funds for scientific research into brain tumours. You can find more information on the fantastic work of Brain Tumour Research here on their website? Laura’s story: Life always throws you curve balls when you least expect it and, in August 2016, I received the devastating news that I had a brain tumour. Eight months earlier I started to not feel like myself as I…

Former Member
Online Community downtime: Thursday 9th March 2023- 7am to 9am

There is some planned maintenance taking place on Macmillan’s website on Thursday 9th March from 7am-9am. So that this essential maintenance can take place, the Online Community will experience some downtime. This means that members will not be able to log in, or join the Online Community, between 7 am - 9am On Thursday 9th March . We know how important the Community is as a source of support for our members, so we always do our best to ensure the site is not unavailable for any longer than necessary. Please know that while the site is down, although you will not be able to create an account, log into the site or post, you will still be able to view the Community and read posts and discussions for support. We understand that this may impact members who rely on the Online Community for…

Megan- Online Community Team
Online Community downtime: Monday 1st Dec 10:30 pm -Tues 2nd Dec at 9am.

There is some planned maintenance taking place on Macmillan’s website overnight on Monday 1st Dec from 10:30pm. During this time the Community will experience some downtime. This means that members will not be able to log in, or join the Online Community, between Monday 1st Dec at 10:30 pm-Tues 2nd Dec at 9am. We know how important the Community is as a source of support for our members, so we will do our best to ensure the site is not unavailable for any longer than necessary. Please know that while the site is down you will not be able to create an account, log into the site or post, however you will still be able to view the Community and read posts and discussions for support. We understand that this may impact members who rely on the Online Community for peer support. If you need…

Moderator - Macmillan Community
“Take a deep breath and remain anchored in hope.”- February wellbeing roundup

Wellbeing Wednesday is a new monthly blog series featuring tips and ideas to help support you. Each month we will share some of the wellbeing tips shared in the forums, Ask an Expert section, alongside support information. Winter wellness In the winter, the darker mornings and evenings can impact our wellbeing. Time changes can disrupt our routines, sleep patterns and mood. Did you know in two weeks’ time, the sun will set after 6.30 pm, so our days will feel brighter. “Our lives are totally changed by something we have never expected or wanted. Lives turned upside down for family and ourselves. Being winter makes it harder. Long nights, cold days, but summer and warm weather is on its way where its sunrays will help us to feel better.” Community member, Head and neck cancer forum One…

Megan- Online Community Team
Have you seen these conversations?

In today’s blog, we’re catching up on some recent conversations from across the Online Community. Members have been offering each other lots of support lately. From side effects to talking to children, members have been talking about everything and anything around their cancer experiences. Even if you have a different type of cancer, remember that you're still welcome to talk to other members in groups across the site. Why not join in and find support? “How was/is the experience of chemo and how do you deal with the side effects?” Bertz, “Bowel (colon and rectum) cancer group In the “Bowel (colon and rectum) cancer” group, member Bertz started a conversation around managing side effects from chemotherapy. Lots of members have replied to share their own experiences. Kareno62’s tip is…

Eliza -Online Community Team
“I did not know the stranger looking back at me from the mirror.” -Renita’s hair loss story

Last month, Community member Renita ( RMD ), shared her story in this blog , of being diagnosed with invasive multifocal ductal and lobular breast cancer. She wrote about the challenges of treatment and how the Macmillan Online Community gave her support, hope and comfort when she needed it most. In this blog, Renita shares her experience of losing her hair during treatment, hoping to help others going through the same thing feel less alone. I thought being diagnosed with multifocal invasive ductal and lobular breast cancer was traumatic. Don't get me wrong, it was, very much so, as was the mastectomy that followed and the various side effects of chemotherapy. Each one seemingly worse than the last. Despite having worn the cold cap during my chemotherapy sessions, enduring the freezing…

Megan- Online Community Team
"...if you were to see me naked, I look the same as before." - Testicular Cancer Awareness Month

It’s April, and with it Testicular Cancer Awareness Month . To recognise this, I thought I’d share with the Community a few positive stories, anecdotes and ‘words of wisdom’ from our Testicular cancer group. Enjoy, and if you’ve been affected by testicular cancer and wish to share something, go ahead and do so using the comments section below. “Good luck. Try to deal with one day at a time. This is a very curable cancer. The most important thing is that you must accept help from whoever offers it. Taking care of you in all this is essential as you will be taking care of everyone else.” 'Treat it like eating an elephant. Eat it in tiny pieces rather than the whole thing at once." “On a less spiritual note, a good friend said treat it like eating an elephant. Eat it in tiny pieces rather…

Former Member
Community guidelines update – sharing medical pictures

Please note that this blog is no longer up-to-date. To see the most recent review of the Community guidelines, please see our more recent blog here . We have some important information to share here on the Online Community. We have decided to trial updating part of the Community guidelines around medical images. Our Community guidelines are what everyone agrees to when they join the Online Community. They’re in place to ensure that everyone is safe while using the site. Previously, our guidelines asked that members not to upload any photos of body parts or medical documents, as this often leads other members to try and diagnose, or offer medical advice. We’ve seen from feedback and conversations on the site, that seeing images of people’s medical journeys can be an important source of…

Eliza -Online Community Team
"Most of us just want normality" - Gina's story

This week one of the latest additions to our Community Champions team, Gina (Ginajsy), has kindly put some words together for the Community detailing her experience and interactions with family, friends and work colleagues following her cancer diagnosis. It makes for an interesting and really thought provoking read. When you are diagnosed with cancer, along with all of the angst, confusion and shock one of the biggest questions us cancer patients have to contend with is, are we really open about our diagnosis and tell everybody? Or do we keep it a secret? Both options have their pros and cons and if you opt to tell everyone, you cannot then take it back. Knowing I would have to have chemotherapy, I assumed (incorrectly) I would automatically lose my hair and I would also need several weeks…

Former Member
Planned Community 'downtime'

Hi everyone, We’re posting this afternoon to let you know about some planned Community ‘downtime’ which will be happening next Tuesday, 11 th February from 7am-1pm . We are carrying out essential maintenance which will better protect the Community and its users from security risks. We have tried to coordinate this to cause minimum disruption and whilst we are hopeful that the site might be up and running again before the end of the planned downtime, this may not be the case. We’re really sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. During this time, if you need support please know that our Support Line is open 8am-8pm on freephone 0808 808 00 00 . You can also chat online to our Information and Support advisers here . If you have any questions, or you’d like to talk to the Community…

Ellen - Macmillan
"Indulge in a favourite past-time, watch boxsets, clean the house..." - Wellbeing Wednesdays: May

June’s here, and with it the Great British Summer...there’s still time for it to arrive, it's just over a week ‘til Summer officially begins. Here's something to brighten your day, our favourite wellbeing tips from you, our members, over the past month… “We all deal with this horrible situation in our own ways, but we all do understand. But I think for all of us the term taking life one hour at a time is never truer than in the first few weeks.” Mush brain “I was able to make a list of my worries, get that list down to bullet points and to set aside just a 10-minute period each day for looking at those worries, and the rest of the time just acknowledging them and putting them aside for that time.” KTatHome “Googling is a definite no-no, as that's just guaranteed to turn you into…

Former Member