Community News - Macmillan Online Community

Can we talk about vulvar and vaginal cancers?

Can we talk openly about vulvas and vaginas? It’s Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month and we’re taking the opportunity to raise awareness of the rarer gynae cancers. We understand that many people find sexual organs to be an embarrassing or awkward subject. Many people might not even know the correct names for these body parts. So what happens if you get diagnosed with cancer (or a pre-cancerous condition) ‘down there’? We’re highlighting how women, trans men and non-binary people can find support from the Community. It’s a place where you can be completely anonymous and chat with others in similar circumstances. Whether you’ve just been diagnosed with vulval/vaginal cancer, need emotional support or practical tips to help with healing after surgery, you’re likely to find someone…

Steph - Online Community Team
Alone in this, together. Blood cancer awareness.

Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be an isolating experience. "Im just feeling so lonely because I cant talk to my loved ones about my fears because I know how much it will make them be afraid!" julielovesGoats, New to the Community group . This can be even more true for those who receive a rarer cancer diagnosis, like some blood disorders. In today’s Community News Blog we’re hoping to create a space where those diagnosed with a rarer cancer can come together and share their experience. We will also share some resources and direction for those affected by blood disorders, to honour blood cancer awareness month this September. Feeling isolated is something that most people have experienced in the last year in one way or another. The Online Community is here to remind you that you are not alone…

Tom C - Online Community team
Parents of children with cancer: do you feel supported?

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month . Today on Community News, we’re talking about parents. No matter how old your child is when they are diagnosed with cancer, the news can still be devastating. A child’s diagnosis can affect all family members, and it’s important to find the right support. “[I am] finding some comfort in the fact that there are other people who have gone through and go through what I am going through…My son has had a malignant aggressive tumour found in his femur. It has all been INCREDIBLY quick. Our world has been turned upside down.” Community member, “Parents of children with cancer” forum Here in the Online Community, many members say things like that it can really help to share experiences. Lots of members have talked about looking after their child…

Eliza -Online Community Team
Kath’s story: living with a stoma and building confidence.

You may have read Kath’s recent blog ‘ Living with bowel cancer and a stoma ’, where she shares some of the physical and emotional challenges that she has faced. In this blog Kath is talking about how living with a stoma has affected her self- confidence. Living with a stoma can be a big change for some people and these changes can take some time adjust to. By sharing her experiences, Kath hopes to help others and to let you know there are ways to build your confidence and adapt your life. Although there have been some difficult moments, Kath wants to make people aware that you can still lead an active and fulfilling life when living with a stoma. I've been a stoma user since 2011 and hardly think about it - ten years down the line. Going back ten years things were very different. For…

Megan- Online Community Team
Our Growing Community

There are many different reasons for joining the Online Community as it provides safe spaces for patients and loved ones to get support from real people. Real people who can truly understand what it’s like being affected by cancer. Today’s blog looks at some of the conversations that you’re getting involved with in our Community groups this month. If you want read last month’s round up blog ‘ What does the Community mean to you? ’ you can do so by clicking here . We usually see lots new members joining the Online Community for support each week. Whether you've been with us for a while, or you've only just joined, it's important to know there's lots of support available for you. Our Community is a place for patients, family members, carers and loved ones to access emotional support and practical…

Megan- Online Community Team
Cancer & me 35 years on - Metastases and radiotherapy

Sketch, and all other artwork, by Willo Today we are back with the next instalment of Willo’s blog, ‘Cancer & me 35 years on’ . Willo was diagnosed with Anal cancer in 1986 while living in Zambia. In this blog series Willo has been sharing her experience of living through and beyond cancer. Alongside sharing everything she has been through, Willo has also been sharing the amazing artwork she created during this time in her life. From talking about how she moved back to England after her diagnosis to start treatment , to sharing her experience of going back to art school after her colostomy surgery, Willo has shared with us her whole journey in the hope that it will help others to read about what she has been through. As one Community member commented after reading Willo’s blog, ‘ 35 years…

Former Member
Head and neck cancer - when food is fuel

We know that receiving a cancer diagnosis can be scary, especially when you don’t know what to expect. Members in the Community have been there. They can help you to face those worries. Through shared experiences, they can help you face the unknown and make you feel much less alone. In this Community New Blog, we’re highlighting the head and neck cancer group and some of the issues members face through treatment and beyond. We’ll be focusing on eating problems, maintaining weight through treatment and staying as healthy as you can. Many members come to the Community looking for support with eating the right foods through treatment and dealing with side effects. "End of week 3 and taste buds have gone. Does anyone have any ideas of what foods they can still taste?" - Carran, head & neck…

Steph - 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
Cancer, exercise and you

Here on the Community we know that staying active looks different for everyone. Everyone is unique, and so is how they may feel emotionally and physically after their cancer treatment. For some people, trying to keep active and move their body after treatment can be a way of looking after themselves. It may help you feel less stressed and lift your spirits if you are feeling low. It can also help you feel more in control, because you are doing something positive for yourself. We all know the benefits of exercise, and that eating well and trying to keep active can be good for our physical and mental health. But for some people, building up fitness after treatment also means getting back to activities and sports that are important to them. Doing what you love and what makes you happy is…

Former Member
Kath's bowel cancer journey and life with a stoma

There are many discussions here on the Community about how a cancer diagnosis can affect someone’s life. Kath is here to share her experience of being diagnosed with bowel cancer 11 years ago and the physical and emotional challenges that she has faced. There can be some comfort gained from reading a shared experience which is why Kath is sharing her story in hope that it can provide support to others. If you read Kath’s story and want to read other personal experiences, you can find many different discussions in the Bowel cancer forum . Eleven years ago, I was diagnosed with Bowel (rectal) cancer. I'd visited my Doctor several times the previous year as I was having to go to the toilet more frequently. Sometimes there was blood in my stools, and I was told I'd had piles. I wasn't given…

Megan- Online Community Team
Planned Online Community Maintenance - Tuesday 10th August, 6AM - 10AM

Hi everyone, Due to some planned maintenance, the Online Community will enter a read-only mode tomorrow morning, Tuesday 10th August from 6:00am to 10:00am. This means that you will not be able to log in, post or reply on the Online Community during this time. You will still be able to read posts and blogs on the site. If you feel you need some support while the Online Community is unavailable, please remember our Support Line is here for you. Our teams are available 8am-8pm, 7 days a week by phone on freephone 0808 808 00 00 and also by email or on webchat . Thank you for your patience and support as Macmillan continues to update and improve our online services. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at community@macmillan.org.uk . Kindest Regards…

Moderator - Macmillan Community
“With hope in our hearts and wings in our heels” – Linda’s story

Linda, known as here on the site, posted in the “Breast cancer” group about how running has helped her through her experiences with cancer treatment and body confidence. We wanted to share her story here on Community News. In today’s blog, Linda talks all about what the benefits of exercise during cancer treatment have been for her personally. I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer just before Christmas, I am 52 years old and I must admit it came as a complete shock. I started having chemo every 3 weeks and I am now having it every week, I am 9 down and 7 to go, not that I’m counting! In fact, as I write this, I am wired up having chemo number 10. The worse side effect I have experienced is that this whole process has completely affected my confidence. As much as I was determined…

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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