Community News - Macmillan Online Community

"Everything you say describes how I'm feeling..." - Skin Cancer Awareness Month

May marks Skin Cancer Awareness Month, so to recognise this I thought I’d put the spotlight on our Skin cancer and Melanoma groups, and highlight a few really positive, helpful and interesting discussions that have been going on in the groups. I’ve also put together a few ‘top tips’ that members of these groups have been sharing – but if you’re affected by skin cancer, go ahead and share your tips of thoughts with us in the comments section below. Discussions: "It’s reassuring to see how well skin can potentially heal." One year post-surgery – Sue, known to the Skin cancer group as Ess , had an operation for BCC removal in November 2017 – this included a skin graft. She’s shared several positive photos of her progress and recovery since then. “Your photos give others hope that the skin…

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"Bladder cancer isn't a rare cancer, even though it's rarely talked about." - Bladder Cancer Awareness Month

t May marks Bladder Cancer Awareness Month, and to recognise this, rily – Community Champion for our Bladder cancer group, has put together a few facts about the cancer, and shared with us his story to date. The below makes for an eye-opening and honest read... Some facts about bladder cancer: 10,000 people are diagnosed with bladder cancer in the UK every year. There are more than 200 known cancers and bladder cancer is the 5 th most common in the Western World. For men, it’s the 4 th most common in the UK, and 7 th Bladder cancer isn’t a rare cancer, even though it’s rarely talked about. Once regarded as an older person’s disease, we’re seeing more and more younger people being diagnosed. Bladder cancer has the highest recurrence rate of any cancer. It is the most expensive…

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"...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…

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"We discussed how to talk to the people we love..." - Attending a Death Café...

This week marks Dying Matters Awareness Week , and to recognise this, David – author of our recent Life after cancer piece, is back to share his thoughts on death – in particular, his recent visit to a Death Café – something he describes as being a “remarkable” experience. David’s piece also coincides with Macmillan’s current ‘Let’s Talk About Death’ campaign, which seeks to encourage people to have conversations about death and plans for it. You can find out more on Macmillan's campaign, alonside information and support on making plans, via this page of our website. Enjoy… The doctors, huddled at the end of my hospital bed are muttering, just out of earshot. My sister is staring at me, trying to lock my gaze, as if she is searching for an answer, or a reassurance of some kind. I feel…

Former Member
What should I take to treatment?

Finding out you have cancer can be an incredibly emotional and challenging experience. There’ll likely be more than enough questions and concerns running through your head without having to worry about the small things - such as, “what should I bring with me to the hospital when I go for treatment?” I’ve compiled suggestions across the Community from our members, and put them together to form a small check-list. “Trashy TV, films on iPad or DVDs…Favourite music, comfy headphones…Magazines…Favourite duvets/pillows, plus plenty of changes as daily laundry will be needed.” “Did anyone mention lip cream or a moisturiser? My lips in the dry air of the room cracked continuously. One other thing that was useful was an extension lead, so I could plug in all my bits and bobs by the bed and have…

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"...try not to let it take over so much that it stops you enjoying the things you usually find pleasurable in your day.” - Wellbeing Wednesdays: April

May’s here, so without further ado, here’s a summary of April’s Wellbeing tips. We’ve revamped our ‘Wellbeing Wednesday’ tips since last month – going forwards we’ll be choosing tips shared with the Community by our members. Here are a few highlights for April… 'Keep doing what you’re doing, or even start doing something else' Tim90 – “Keep doing what you’re doing, or even start doing something else. Don’t put a block in the way. Be careful of course, don’t take unnecessary risks, but maybe you don’t have to put your life on hold.” Pollydog – “But what might help too is to say; be really kind to yourself. Let people you know, and love know how you are feeling – and if you can, let them listen and support you.” 'Plan yourself some treats to look forward to.' Fairycake – “Plan yourself…

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"Cancer must not define who we are..."

Whether it’s drawing a picture, painting, writing a song or perhaps a poem, being creative is for many people a great way to improve your mental wellbeing. Having spoken to a lot of our Community members about their experiences, I often hear that being creative has helped provide them with an escape or diversions to where cancer’s no longer a central focus. Our Express yourself group’s a space where members showcase their creations, so as a way of encouraging others to perhaps do the same, I thought I’d share a few highlights from the group for those who haven’t yet ventured into it. Enjoy… 'Bad and good!' by Blot3 Because of my hectic work and home life, I've found it difficult to vent. Whilst having rads I stayed away from home and decided to get down on paper what was really affecting…

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"I once had a pub lunch with Judi Dench..." - Meet the Champs: MikeO

Following on from last month's 'Meet the Champs' Q&A with Greg777 , this month we meet MikeO , who you'll find Champing our Head and neck cancer group . Enjoy... How long have you been using the Community, and what brought you to the site? I found the Community not long after my diagnosis in October 2013, after a bit of manic Googling had got me terrified for my prospects I calmed down and looked for a more balanced view. I've always been a big user of internet forums since first taking the plunge into the computer age in 2004 and I'm active in several, travel based some of them but mostly an Everton football club forum that I'm a co-admin on (somebody has to do it). Not a fan of social media in the Facebook or Twitter sense but I like to get to 'know' people on forums so the Macmillan…

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"...I was winded by the realisation that I could've died. Equally, I realised that now I had to live." - David's story

Last month, Community News shared My cancer, my sexuality, me. – a piece written by a gent named David, which spoke about his diagnosis and its relation to his sexuality. David’s story made for an extremely honest and heartfelt read, so I thought I’d ask him to contribute another piece this month. Fortunately, David recently underwent chemotherapy treatment which proved to be successful. His below piece covers difficulties and mixed feelings David felt following this news. I should mention David originally shared this piece with the Centre for Mental Health ; a fantastic charity that works to promote mental health and wellbeing, and to change inequality and disadvantage throughout the life course. The walk from the waiting room to his office seemed interminable. The lights were harsh…

Former Member
Dining with an Ostomate - "...a quick and easy way to get food inside me, even when I might not have much appetite."

Earlier this month , Debbie, our resident ‘Ostomate chef’, shared with us a little about her struggles and how she’s coped with eating following an ileostomy earlier this year, and an extremely nutritious ‘Super Green Soup’ recipe. This week she’s back to talk about how she reintroduced fruit into her diet , and shares with us two rather tasty smoothie recipes. Enjoy… Reintroducing fruit: Eating fresh fruit has always been part of my diet, so it was something that I was very keen to reintroduce once I had the ileostomy. I was able to eat bananas from pretty much the third day, and have found them very helpful when needing to thicken my stoma output, and as a mid-morning snack in the early days when I was unable to eat much at meal times. As I knew that I could eat them with no ill effects…

Former Member
"...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
Get to know the Expert: Hannah (Ask a Physio)

One of my favourite aspects of the Community is the fact our members can put any questions they have about cancer to one of our various experts through the Ask an Expert section of our site. Whatever your situation, wherever your location - you can simply log onto the Community and access support from a professional. Want to know more about Experts who volunteer to answer your questions? Well starting from today we’ll be introducing a monthly ‘Get to know the Expert’ Q&A, where our Experts will tell you a little more about themselves, what they do, and how they can support you through your experience with cancer. This month we’ve Hannah , one of our Ask an Expert Physio’s, to start things off… How long have you been an Expert on the Community, and what made you want to volunteer for…

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