Community News - Macmillan Online Community

Macmillan HOPE Programme: Support for living with and beyond cancer

It can be difficult to feel hopeful after a cancer diagnosis. The Macmillan HOPE Programme is a free six-session self-management course designed to help people living with and beyond cancer manage the emotional, psychological and practical challenges they may face. In this blog, we explain how the programme works and share messages of hope from members of our Online Community. “my mind is all over, but throughout I’ve help on to hope and positivity, kept moving and address each challenge as it arrives. So I’m sending hope and love to everyone going through this, and anyone caring for someone too - you’re all amazing.” Online Community Member “To everyone currently going through treatment, waiting for scan results, living with stage 4 or supporting someone you love — I’m sending you so…

Wayne - Online Community Team
Mental health and cancer: Tips and support for your wellbeing

Living with cancer can have a significant impact on your mental health. This Saturday 10 October is World Mental Health Day 2026 . In this blog, we're sharing experiences and advice from members of the Online Community about coping with the emotional effects of cancer, and where to find support when it's needed most. Ways to support your mental health when living with cancer Having conversations about mental health can make such a difference. Being able to put into words how you’re feeling, knowing that someone is there to listen, and hearing from others who may have experienced something similar can help us feel less alone. For people living with cancer, as well as those caring for a loved one with cancer, looking after your mental health can be particularly important. A cancer diagnosis…

Lizzie - Online Community Team
Join the Autumn spotting festival 2026

Today we are launching the 2026 Autumn spotting festival. It is a dedicated space to share seasonal joy. This discussion is a space to connect with others during the cooler and darker evenings through a shared appreciation for seasonal crafts, recipes, and hobbies. You are welcome to share: Craft and creative projects Self-care tips Any pictures of the autumn season you may have taken Hobbies you like to do during the autumn months Recipes- it is the season for comfort food, after all. Poems and creative writing Join the Autumn spotting 2026 discussion To help you get involved in the discussion, here is a snapshot of what was posted in the 2025 Autumn spotting chat. Thank you to everyone who got involved. We hope you will enjoy the seasonal posts again this year. BlueBlue…

Megan- Online Community Team
Blogging on the Online Community

Have you set up a blog and need help managing this? Have you been thinking about setting up your own blog but not sure how? We wanted to let you know there is step by step information and video tutorials to help you. In our Help Pages, the ‘ Blogs ’ section has step-by-step instructions and short video tutorials to help you set up your blog. Recently, we have added a new page to help you manage your blog. This includes easy access to revisiting your blog and how to manage your blog post drafts if you are still editing them. New help page: How to manage your blog What is a blog? A blog is used to help someone diarise their experiences. Setting up a blog is like creating a virtual book, where you can add blog posts like pages of the book. Blogging can be a helpful way to express your…

Megan- Online Community Team
Macmillan Free Community Lunch with Chef & Brewer - 4th December at 12pm

We’d love to invite you and a guest to a free Macmillan Community Lunch at selected Chef & Brewer pubs on Friday 4th December at 12pm. Enjoy a delicious lunch with the Macmillan network, including people affected by cancer, volunteers, fundraisers, supporters, professionals and staff. You’ll share a table with up to 10 people from different backgrounds – you may not know anyone when you arrive, but could leave having made great new connections! You can also bring a guest with you. How to book your place: Visit the Chef & Brewer website, find your local pub and select ‘Book a Table’. https://www.chefandbrewer.com/pubs-near-me Set the number of Adults to ‘1’ or ‘2’ if you’re bringing a guest - this is important, as the offer won’t show as available otherwise. You can book a maximum…

Wayne - 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
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
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
Wenda’s Story. Afro hair care after chemotherapy

Image above: Wenda in 2026 Wenda AKA Sonia101 on the Online Community was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023. She wrote a short memoir about her cancer journey to help inspire others with breast cancer. The book “Faith over Cancer” focuses on Wenda’s persisting faith in God throughout her cancer treatment, including surgery and chemotherapy. As part of her memoir, Wenda also shares her experiences of losing her afro hair following chemotherapy and afro hair care following regrowth. Wenda told us she found it more difficult to find information about afro hair and cancer treatment. Macmillan want to make sure we offer cancer support relevant to you, whoever you may be. In this Community News Blog, we are sharing excerpts and photos from Wenda’s memoir, sharing her experience of hair loss…

Steph - 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
Coffee Morning with Macmillan's Online Community

September marks Coffee Morning month! While Macmillan’s official Coffee Morning date is 25 of September, you can take part anytime. It’s a chance to come together, share a cuppa and start talking. Here at the O nline C ommunity, we know how important those conversations can be. By sharing experience s, advice and support, members help one another feel listened to and less alone. In this blog, we’ll hear from members about the connections they’ve made and support they’ve received. We’ll show you how you can join conversation s in our forums and find your nearest Coffee Morning. Grab a cuppa and let’s celebrate coming together. Feeling less alone Many members of our community have found comfort and support through our forums. For some it may be the first time they’ve felt able to open up…

Lizzie - Online Community Team
New Autumn/Winter 2026 Dates - Local Cancer Community Meet-ups

As early autumn and winter approach, we're delighted to announce a fresh round of face-to-face meet-ups in more cities than ever. If you're near any of the following locations, read on: Birmingham Bristol Colchester Dagenham Glasgow Lincoln Manchester Preston Rochester Sheffield Swindon Watford Westwood Cross (near Margate) Wolverhampton As always, 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…

Matthew - Online Community Team