Community News - Macmillan Online Community

Catching up with the Family and Friends group

A family member’s or a friend’s diagnosis can have a huge impact on your life. It’s natural to want to find support for yourself while you’re supporting a loved one with cancer. Here in the Community, we have lots of different groups where you can chat to people who may have a similar cancer diagnosis to your family member. These are all safe spaces to ask questions and find support. However, sometimes it can be really helpful to be able to talk to other people who can understand how you feel as a friend or relative. That’s why we also have our “Family and friends” group . In the Community News blog today, we’re going to feature some recent discussions from the group and show you what members have been talking about recently. Remember you can click the links underneath each post to go to the…

Eliza -Online Community Team
Cancer, pleasure and intimacy: Sarah-Jane’s story

Sarah-Jane found it difficult to cope with how her gynaecological cancer diagnosis and treatment affected her experience of pleasure and intimacy. The lack of information from her medical team and conversations around how a woman’s intimate relationship with their body and sex can change during and after cancer treatment left her feeling invisible. Macmillan’s Digital Storytelling Project is where people affected by cancer have created their own videos to talk about their experiences. Sarah-Jane is one of our stories of the month for September, where we will be focusing on cancer, sex and our relationship with our bodies. For many people, your sex life and sexual health can be important parts of your life before, during and after cancer. September is also Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month…

Eliza -Online Community Team
Coming to terms with a cancer diagnosis

This blog is looking at how our Community members process the news of a cancer diagnosis. Some mourn and grieve for the life they once knew before being impacted by cancer and some find comfort from having the answers they may have been waiting a long time for. However you are feeling, you're not alone. There's others talking about how they they are coping here on the Community so stay and read this blog to hopefully draw some comfort from these shared experiences. Do you find yourself mourning for the life before cancer? The term mourning is usually described as an expression of sorrow and is typically used in the context of someone passing away. When someone dies, you mourn this loss. For some, when they are diagnosed with cancer, it can feel like you have lost a part or version of you…

Megan- Online Community Team
Finding Cancer Support Online – Where do I start?

We know from our Online Community that dealing with cancer can be overwhelming. People with cancer and their family members, or loved ones, often look for emotional support and practical advice or ways to get involved with others for cancer support online. With Macmillan’s Online Community, you have come to the right place to talk to others who understand. Here you can find peer support and talk to other people with real lived cancer experience. www.youtube.com/watch But where do you start? In today’s Community News Blog that’s exactly what we’re talking about. We're highlighting all the different support available on the Community and also providing tips to help you get started. Using the Online Community The first thing to say is that we know new websites or technologies can be overwhelming…

Tom C - Online Community team
Online Community downtime: Thursday 18th August 2022- 7am to 9am

There is some planned maintenance taking place on Macmillan’s website on Thursday 21st July, from 7am-10am. 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 18th August 2022. 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…

Megan- Online Community Team
The power of shared support on Macmillan's Online Community

When you first join the Community, supporting others might be the last thing on your mind. You might have just received a cancer diagnosis , feeling alone and fearful of what lies ahead. You might be reeling with news of a loved one’s diagnosis and not sure how you’ll cope. You might be struggling with cancer treatment and just want someone to talk to in the middle of the night. Although finding support might be your initial need, you might be surprised to find that by simply posting here, your words will help to support others. We hope it brings you comfort to know that by sharing your personal experience here on the Community, you become part of a powerful social network of peer support . "I came on your thread to comfort you and you've given me comfort right back! Thank you" Community…

Steph - Online Community Team
What do you wish people would say? Katy’s story

Lots of members here on the Community talk about how it can be difficult to deal with unhelpful advice and reactions from other people when you have cancer. Katy is here to reassure you that you’re not alone if you’ve felt frustrated by what people say. This is our latest instalment in our series with with Macmillan’s Digital Storytelling Project, where people affected by cancer have created their own videos to talk about their experiences. For August’s Story of the Month, we’re featuring Katy. Katy was diagnosed with early stage cervical cancer in early 2021. Her video is all about how people can use a “cheat code” to be more helpful when talking to someone affected by cancer. “I don’t need you to cheer me up. I need you to tell me ‘yes, this does suck.’” Katy’s video is called “Cheat…

Eliza -Online Community Team
Secondary cancer support from the Online Community - "I have found this forum so helpful and feel the support out there so thank you all"

Secondary cancer is one way of describing cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. We have lots of members in the Community who have been diagnosed with a secondary cancer or are supporting loved ones with a secondary cancer. Other members might feel concerned about secondary cancers throughout their cancer experience. The Community works as an online cancer support group and provides an opportunity for you to virtually connect with others in similar circumstances. You might like some support from someone who understands what you’re going through, or you might be looking for hints around how to talk to someone who has been recently diagnosed. Some members benefit from shared tips on how to occupy your mind when waiting for results, or how to manage side effects from cancer treatment…

Steph - Online Community Team
Travel Tips from our Cancer Forums

The neck pillows, the duty-free attendants waiting to spray you in the latest cologne or perfume, using your passport as a fan and the extortionate in-flight meal price. It seems like it’s that time again. It doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go abroad, a quiet break a few towns away is just as good to replenish and recharge. As we approach the tail-end of Summer, we take a look on the Community at how our lovely members provide their experiences to help others to try and have the best trip they can. Every person’s definition of holiday is different. You can go biking in a national park on a quaint family holiday, you can relax by the swimming pool at a hotel in Thailand or even explore some affordable staycations. Whatever the plan is, you can look to the Community for some summer holiday…

Syed - Macmillan
Supporting a Loved One Through Cancer Treatment

We often see conversations around cancer treatment on the Online Community. It can be concerns around treatment decisions for family members or other loved ones, dealing with side effects, or simply looking for emotional support and support groups. We know these situations can be a difficult time for people affected by cancer. However you want to talk about cancer treatment, we’re here to listen. “Today is an ok day. Just popping in to say hi, and express my gratitude to the existence of this forum.” Online Community member, Ovarian cancer forum "Thank you so much, your reply has really lifted me, it’s really helpful to hear from people who are going through it. Very grateful to have found this forum xx" Online Community member, Cervical cancer forum Making Treatment decisions We know from…

Tom C - Online Community team
"But what should I say?" Talking to someone who's been diagnosed

When someone close to you receives a cancer diagnosis, it can sometimes be difficult to know what to say. You want to reassure them, but you don’t want to minimise what they are going through, you may have questions you want to ask, but also don’t want to pry, you want to let them know you’re here for them but also give them any space they may need. It can seem really difficult to know how to start and can lead to some people avoiding the situation all together. When it comes to talking about cancer, there is no one script you can follow because, the simple fact is, ever single person is different and may want to talk about cancer in their own unique way. The most important thing is that you are open to having those conversations about cancer, as being open and available to talk can be a…

Former Member