Community News - Macmillan Online Community

Cancer, self-advocacy and pre-existing health conditions on the Online Community

Our forum members share experiences of self-advocacy, pre-existing health conditions and variations in cancer care. Self-advocacy means speaking up, asking questions, and making informed decisions, whatever stage you're at. Managing your own healthcare can be even more difficult if you have other health conditions as well as cancer. And there are unacceptable variations in cancer care across the UK. This means not everyone gets the same experience, depending on who they are and where they live. Learn how Online Community members navigate these issues. “I have inflammatory breast cancer and was told the only options was non skin sparing mastectomy with a year long wait for reconstruction, after being referred to another hospital despite being told by the previous hospital I couldn't have…

Steph - Online Community Team
Meet Mr U - self advocating through cancer treatment with a pre-existing heart condition

Image by Mr U - The famous 'Mr Vicious' who features throughout Mr U's blog Community member Mr U was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer in 2022. He also has a pre-existing heart condition, making treatment more complicated. In his Online Community blog ‘ To hop-on or hop-off is the question? ’ Mr U has shared his story of self-advocacy through treatment and pushing for better outcomes. Self-advocacy means actively speaking up, asking questions, and making informed decisions about treatment. Dealing with different hospital departments and trusts, whilst trying to remain positive isn’t easy. Mr U shares how he has coped, whilst staying strong for his wife 'My Darling' and family. “Where do I even start to explain the everyday pain of self-advocacy?" Today I’ve written around…

Steph - Online Community Team
Ethnic minority cancer awareness on the Online Community

As part of Ethnic minority cancer awareness month, we are sharing the lived experiences of ethnic minority communities posted in our forums and blogs, alongside sharing support resources. Here on the Online Community, all our forums are intended as a safe place for you to talk anonymously about your emotions and experiences with other people who may be going through a similar situation. We realise that sometimes a person’s identity can impact their personal cancer journey. This could be because they have experienced racial health inequalities, breakdown in relationships and family dynamics, religious and cultural challenges, stigmas with their gender, and so much more. There may be stigmas linked to a cancer diagnosis, which can result in isolation and loneliness. We want our Online Community…

Megan- Online Community Team
Spirituality, faith and cancer in the Online Community

A cancer experience can lead to many changes. Some are physical, while others may affect how you see life, yourself, or the world around you. In times of uncertainty, many people turn to faith or spirituality for comfort, strength, and a sense of peace. Spirituality can mean different things to different people. For some, it’s about following a religion or being part of a faith community. For others, it might be a personal sense of meaning, connection to nature, or time for quiet reflection. In this blog, we are shining a light on our Religion, spirituality and prayer forum . This is a space in the Online Community where you can share prayers, reflections, or explore spiritual thoughts and questions with others who understand. A faith community can play a vital role in your support. It…

Dylan - Online Community Team
An update to our Online Community email notifications

Hi everyone, We just wanted to let you know about a change to the way our email notifications work. Previously, if you opted to receive email notifications about new posts or Private Messages, a preview of the content would be included in the email. In order to comply with the UK's new Online Safety Act , our website has now been updated to remove message preview content from all notification emails. Although this does mean you will need to check the Online Community directly in order to read the actual contents of new messages or thread replies, it also means users are protected from receiving copies of potentially upsetting posts which may have been subsequently removed from public view. We hope you can appreciate the reasons behind why had to update the way notification emails work. If…

Moderator - Macmillan Community
We're here for you: Find cancer support services near you

Right support, right place Being told you have cancer can be very difficult. It can take up a lot of your time, energy, and emotional strength. That’s why it’s important that cancer support is easy to find, easy to use, and easy to understand. Macmillan offers a wide range of support services that can be accessed from nearly anywhere. You can talk to Macmillan advisers directly by contacting our Macmillan Support Line . You can connect with other people to share similar experiences and offer support using our free and anonymous Online Community site. But sometimes, you may need support that is in-person and close to where you live. That’s where our local cancer support search tool comes in. Fast, vast, and always up-to-date Our new and improved local cancer support search tool now…

Matthew - Online Community Team
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
“So grateful to the champions on this forum”

It’s Volunteer's Week from June 2nd to 8th, 2025. This blog celebrates the dedication and commitment our fabulous Online Community Champions give to the Community every day. Who are our Online Community Champions? The Community Champions are a dedicated team of volunteers here on the Online Community. Our Champions are a friendly listening ear for those who need it most, helping people affected by cancer feel supported and less alone. The role is flexible and there's no expectation for Community Champions to log in every single day, although many of them do. So far this year, our Community champions have posted over 14,498 times, which helps show the amount of kindness and support they provide every day. A huge thank you to: Beesuit, chellesimo, chris2012, Daisy53, DaveyBo, GBear…

Megan- Online Community Team
Awake and up all night? Get emotional support around the clock!

Trouble sleeping? Receiving news of a cancer diagnosis can often trigger a time of great uncertainty. Whether the diagnosis is for yourself or a loved one, it is often accompanied by feelings of dread, sadness, and anxiety. Those negative emotions can significantly impact your ability to concentrate during the day and relax at night. Similarly, cancer treatments and the side-effects of various drugs can have an impact on finding restful sleep. During the day, there are usually plenty of commitments to take up your time, and plenty of people around who might need your attention. Be it in your own home, at a place of work, or perhaps at a medical appointment – there are no shortage of distractions. But what happens toward the end of the day? Maybe your friends have gone home. Family members…

Matthew - Online Community Team
International Nurses Day: Reflections from the Online Community

International Nurses Day (IND) is celebrated each year on 12 May, marking the birthday of Florence Nightingale. It’s a chance to honour the incredible work nurses do every day to support and care for others. In the Online Community , many members have shared how much nurses have helped during some of their most difficult times. Today, we’re sharing a few of those messages, along with ways you can speak with a nurse yourself. “I spoke to a Macmillan nurse this morning who was very reassuring and kind.” Community member, Bowel cancer forum The difference nurses make “The most amazing nurse who has been an incredible practical support both in terms of getting pain relief quickly from my GP and visits to check on progress and kept my morale up as much as possible.” Community member, Head…

Dylan - Online Community Team
Have you had your green medicine?

Picture by Winkers60 in the Spring spotting 2025 discussion thread. It’s Gardens and Health Week from 3 rd to 11th May 2025. To celebrate this, we are sharing information about Macmillan’s partner, The National Garden Scheme, and how you can get some green medicine during Gardens and Health week. What is the National Garden scheme? Our longest standing partner The National Garden Scheme have donated over £19 million to Macmillan Cancer Support since 1984, funding over 150 Macmillan nurses and professionals along with helping to fund three major care units. In honour of Gardens and Health Week 3-11 May 2025 the National Garden Scheme’s Garden and Health program brings to life the power of ‘Green Medicine’ which emphasises and raises awareness of the physical and mental health benefits…

Megan- Online Community Team
Meet Kirsty Part 2, diagnosed with breast cancer alongside an existing health condition

Last month , we introduced you to Kirsty to share her story about coping with a breast cancer diagnosis alongside other long-term health issues. Kirsty described living under the shadow of acute Ulcerative Colitis for 21 years before finding a lump in her breast in April 2024. In Kirsty's story, she describes with candid honesty and humour how she dealt with tests for cancer whilst managing relationships with her loved ones. In this second part of two blogs telling Kirsty's story, we will continue to share Kirsty's experience as she told it to us. Kirsty's story, continued. "I was ultimately lucky enough to have what I call 'the good breast cancer'. That is a thing. My sister had the good one too and I can’t believe how incredibly fortunate we are. Because even though breast cancer…

Steph - Online Community Team