Community News - Macmillan Online Community

Recognising shared support on the Online Community - Special Contributions, Guest Bloggers and Community Champions

At the heart of our Online Community is the incredible support and connection that members offer each other. Every day, we see individuals going above and beyond, sharing their experiences, offering a helping hand, and making our space a positive and encouraging place to be. To celebrate these acts of kindness and dedication, the Online Community team offer badges to recognise and honour the contributions of our members. In this blog, we’ll introduce you to the different badges we award and explain how they highlight the amazing impact our members have. Whether it’s a thoughtful post, a story shared, or consistent support in our discussion groups, we want to celebrate it all. If you feel inspired to get more involved or know someone whose efforts deserve recognition, we’d love to hear from…

Steph - Online Community Team
March’s wellbeing Wednesday- Mindfulness, Music and Meditation

Waiting for test results and having treatment can cause issues with managing emotions and struggling to sleep. This blog includes some mind-body therapy information, alongside some wellbeing tips. These may be useful if you are having trouble sleeping or want to try some new coping strategies. Have you heard of mind-body therapies? Mind-body therapies are based on the belief that what we think and feel can affect how our bodies function. They have no effect on the cancer but may be used to help you feel less anxious, improve your mood and help you sleep. They may also help with symptoms such as pain or help you cope with side effects caused by cancer treatment. The mind-body therapies used by people with cancer in the UK include: relaxation techniques meditation mindfulness …

Megan- Online Community Team
Moments of support that made a difference

Cancer is one of the toughest things someone can go through. When cancer shows up, the people around us can matter more than ever. Showing someone you care cannot change a cancer diagnosis, but it can help them feel less alone. Yet when cancer shows up, silence can often follow. Loved ones, friends, and colleagues may struggle to find the right words to say. They may worry about saying the wrong thing, asking too many questions, or not knowing how to help. This is something Community members have called Cancer ghosting, and we explore this more in the Cancer ghosting blog . For someone living with cancer, this silence can be difficult too. Many people tell us they do not want to feel like a burden. Talking about their diagnosis or treatment can sometimes feel confusing and overwhelming…

Megan- Online Community Team
Local Cancer Community Meet-ups - New Dates, More Locations!

Macmillan's 'Cancer Community Meet-ups' program has been extended. This time, we don't just have new dates... we also have more locations! Are you in Birmingham, Bradford , Preston, Rochester, Washington, or Watford ? Do you fancy chatting face-to-face with other people affected by cancer? If so, we're delighted to announce even more opportunities to make new friends. These in-person events intend to build supportive communities of people local to the areas they're hosted in. To avoid confusing them with our Online Community, we refer to these events as 'Local Cancer Community Meet-ups' in this blog. If you would like to discuss attending this event with other members of the Online Community, please don't forget that our Community Guidelines still apply. The Private Messaging system is…

Dylan - Online Community Team
Newly diagnosed with cancer? Advice from Macmillan’s Online Community

Receiving a cancer diagnosis can bring overwhelming emotions, uncertainty and many questions. It can be difficult to know what to do or where to turn, especially in those first few days. It can help to hear from people who have been there before. Last month, we asked members of the Online Community what they would say to themselves on the day they were diagnosed with cancer. We wanted to know what words of advice they would offer, anything they wish they had known at the time, and what helped them most during those early days. In this blog, we’ve brought together some of the replies our members shared. We hope their experiences, advice and words of encouragement will help anyone who has recently been diagnosed with cancer feel a little less alone and more prepared. Take things one step…

Dylan - Online Community Team
Our Community Champions - "the 'glue' that binds us all together!"

Volunteers Week takes place from 1st to 7th June 2026. This blog celebrates the dedication, commitment, and valued contributions that our wonderful Online Community Champions make to the Community each and every day. Who are our Online Community Champions? Over the past year, our Community Champions have contributed more than 13,242 posts, reflecting the ongoing kindness, encouragement, and support they provide to other members every day. A huge thank you to: chris2012 , rily , src60 , Thehighlander , latchbrook , lesleyhelen , Nikki65 , Beesuit , chellesimo , Irishgirl16 , WeeMe , Daisy53 , SarahH21 , Kasvin , jane2511 , Millibob , excavator , Coddfish , Jamie696 Words of appreciation from Community members “Thank you to all the Community Champions! They are the 'glue' that binds…

Wayne - Online Community Team
South Asian Heritage Month 2026

Are you from a South Asian background and affected by cancer? Have you ever wished you could talk to someone who understands the cultural, family or faith-related challenges that can come with a cancer diagnosis? South Asian Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the history, cultures and contributions of South Asian communities in the UK. It is also an opportunity to recognise that people from South Asian communities can experience unique challenges when navigating cancer, and that these challenges can continue long after awareness campaigns and heritage celebrations have ended. A cancer diagnosis can affect every part of life. Alongside treatment, appointments and recovery, many people are also navigating family responsibilities, cultural expectations, faith, language barriers and conversations…

Emma - Online Community Team
Are you LGBTQIA+ and living with cancer?

Have you ever felt like parts of your identity or experience were not fully understood during your cancer journey? While everyone’s experience is different, Macmillan recognises that LGBTQIA+ people can face additional barriers across the cancer pathway. Alongside treatment, appointments and recovery, many people also navigate questions about identity, and how to communicate needs to others. Some challenges LGBTQIA+ people face: Worrying if healthcare professionals will understand and respect your relationships or family structure. Having to repeatedly explain pronouns, names, identities or family structures during treatment. Feeling uncomfortable correcting assumptions about gender identity or sexual orientation during appointments. Worrying if partners, chosen family…

Emma - Online Community Team
Disability Pride Month

Are you living with a disability following cancer treatment? Support is available. July is Disability Pride Month, a time to celebrate disabled people, challenge stigma and recognise the diversity of disabled experiences. It is also an opportunity to acknowledge that for many people affected by cancer, the impact of cancer does not end when treatment finishes. For some people, cancer can lead to a disability or long-term health condition. Others may have been disabled before their cancer diagnosis and find that cancer adds new challenges to navigate. While some people recover from treatment and can regain much of their abilities as before, others continue to experience long-term or permanent effects of cancer and its treatment. These can include fatigue, pain, mobility issues, cognitive…

Emma - Online Community Team
Neurodivergence and Cancer: Alison's Story

On being a "pepper pot "carer with cancer. In the Spring of 2016, I was diagnosed with myeloma, a type of blood cancer. I had not heard of this type of cancer. I was told it was incurable but treatable. I was 56. An article I read by someone who is living with blood cancer (and was much younger than myself at the time of their diagnosis) said that their diagnosis felt like their life had been hit by a wrecking ball. For me these words describe perfectly how I felt. The shock was enormous. I had been a carer all my life, from caring for a younger sibling with special needs whilst I was growing up, to working in a caring profession, to caring for my son who is autistic. In my own head, I had never envisaged a time when I would not be able to care for someone who relied on me. The diagnosis…

Emma - Online Community Team
Male breast cancer: David's story and support

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month . This is a time to raise awareness of breast cancer, encourage people to know the signs and symptoms, and remind everyone of the importance of seeking medical advice when something doesn’t feel right. When we think about breast cancer, it is often associated with women. But breast cancer can affect men too. Male breast cancer is rare, but around 375 men are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK each year. You may have recently seen male breast cancer brought into the spotlight on Coronation Street, where one of the show’s male characters is diagnosed with breast cancer.  Macmillan Cancer Support has partnered with ITV’s  Coronation Street  to help bring this important issue to the forefront, using the storyline as an opportunity to raise awareness…

Lizzie - Online Community Team
It’s National Inclusion Week!

Have you ever felt that your identity, background or the way you experience the world has affected your cancer journey? National Inclusion Week is an opportunity to think about what inclusion means for people affected by cancer. Cancer can affect anyone, but the experience of diagnosis, treatment and recovery isn’t the same for everyone. For some people, their identity or circumstances can bring additional challenges when accessing information, treatment or support. At Macmillan, we want everyone affected by cancer to feel that there is space for them. That’s why Macmillan's Online Community has dedicated spaces where people from different communities can connect with those who understand the challenges they face. Here are three examples: LGBTQIA+ people and cancer Many LGBTQIA…

Emma - Online Community Team