Community News - Macmillan Online Community

Neurodivergence and Cancer: Alison's Story

On being a "pepper pot "carer with cancer. In the Spring of 2016, I was diagnosed with myeloma, a type of blood cancer. I had not heard of this type of cancer. I was told it was incurable but treatable. I was 56. An article I read by someone who is living with blood cancer (and was much younger than myself at the time of their diagnosis) said that their diagnosis felt like their life had been hit by a wrecking ball. For me these words describe perfectly how I felt. The shock was enormous. I had been a carer all my life, from caring for a younger sibling with special needs whilst I was growing up, to working in a caring profession, to caring for my son who is autistic. In my own head, I had never envisaged a time when I would not be able to care for someone who relied on me. The diagnosis…

Emma - Online Community Team
“I did not know the stranger looking back at me from the mirror.” -Renita’s hair loss story

Last month, Community member Renita ( RMD ), shared her story in this blog , of being diagnosed with invasive multifocal ductal and lobular breast cancer. She wrote about the challenges of treatment and how the Macmillan Online Community gave her support, hope and comfort when she needed it most. In this blog, Renita shares her experience of losing her hair during treatment, hoping to help others going through the same thing feel less alone. I thought being diagnosed with multifocal invasive ductal and lobular breast cancer was traumatic. Don't get me wrong, it was, very much so, as was the mastectomy that followed and the various side effects of chemotherapy. Each one seemingly worse than the last. Despite having worn the cold cap during my chemotherapy sessions, enduring the freezing…

Megan- Online Community Team
Cancer during pregnancy: finding support and sharing your story

Note: This content was originally written by Steph - Online Community Team in 2022. To mark World Breastfeeding Awareness Week 2026, it has been updated to include more recent Community content and links to further support information. A cancer diagnosis can be upsetting. If you’re pregnant when diagnosed with cancer it can be even more frightening and confusing. You might feel you need additional support as you receive your cancer diagnosis, navigate treatment options and cancer treatment. The Community is here to support you, in addition to a wide range of help available from Macmillan and other support providers. Members of the Community might also be supporting a loved one with cancer at the same time as going through a pregnancy. Or perhaps you are coping with your own cancer diagnosis…

Matthew - Online Community Team
What were the moments of support that mattered to you?

Cancer is one of the toughest things someone can go through. When cancer shows up, silence often follows. This is something Community members have called Cancer ghosting, and we explore this experience more in the Cancer ghosting blog . People living with cancer tell us they don't want to be a burden but still need emotional and practical support from their loved ones. Sometimes friends, family and colleagues can struggle to find the right words to say and not know how to best support you. What supportive moments made a difference to you? We are asking you what your family and friends have done to show they care and be supportive. Was it stopping by with warm meals? Meeting up with them once a week for a cuppa and a chat about life beyond cancer? Care packages of things to help…

Megan- Online Community Team
"Macmillan’s community becomes my lifeline as in my own community, cancer is still a taboo" -Renita's story

Renita, known as RMD in the Online Community, was diagnosed with invasive multifocal ductal and lobular breast cancer at 48. In this blog, she shares her diagnosis story, the challenges of treatment, and how the Macmillan Online Community became a source of support, hope and reassurance when she needed it most. Cancer was not on my radar until my mum found a lump. In May 2025, during my morning call to my family in India, my sister says, “Now don’t panic but…” “What’s happened?” I cry in full-blown panic, frantically googling flights to India. My mum takes over, calm and unruffled. She is the matriarch of the family, our strength and rock. As usual, just hearing her voice makes me feel better, but what she says has me hyperventilating again. She has found a lump in her breast. It needs…

Megan- Online Community Team
Travel Insurance and Cancer - your questions answered by an expert

The importance of getting the right cover Are you planning on taking a holiday this year? Perhaps you're looking for a little extra summer sun? Or maybe a winter escape for when the weather turns chilly? Whatever you're planning, there are some travel essentials that no holidaymaker should leave home without. Packing the right travel documents, currency, and clothing for your trip is very important. But what about your insurance? Have you checked your travel insurance plan covers your specific holiday itinerary? Does it cover your specific health needs? If you or someone you're traveling with has a cancer diagnosis, it is vital you have the insurance cover to match. Meet Fiona This is Fiona. She loves to travel. Fiona has first-hand experience of what it's like to be impacted by…

Matthew - Online Community Team
South Asian Heritage Month 2026

Are you from a South Asian background and affected by cancer? Have you ever wished you could talk to someone who understands the cultural, family or faith-related challenges that can come with a cancer diagnosis? South Asian Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the history, cultures and contributions of South Asian communities in the UK. It is also an opportunity to recognise that people from South Asian communities can experience unique challenges when navigating cancer, and that these challenges can continue long after awareness campaigns and heritage celebrations have ended. A cancer diagnosis can affect every part of life. Alongside treatment, appointments and recovery, many people are also navigating family responsibilities, cultural expectations, faith, language barriers and conversations…

Emma - Online Community Team
Disability Pride Month

Are you living with a disability following cancer treatment? Support is available. July is Disability Pride Month, a time to celebrate disabled people, challenge stigma and recognise the diversity of disabled experiences. It is also an opportunity to acknowledge that for many people affected by cancer, the impact of cancer does not end when treatment finishes. For some people, cancer can lead to a disability or long-term health condition. Others may have been disabled before their cancer diagnosis and find that cancer adds new challenges to navigate. While some people recover from treatment and can regain much of their abilities as before, others continue to experience long-term or permanent effects of cancer and its treatment. These can include fatigue, pain, mobility issues, cognitive…

Emma - Online Community Team
Gentle exercise and staying active with Cancer

Being active during and after cancer treatment can offer a lot of benefits, both physically and mentally. Physical activity can improve your emotional well-being and help reduce anxiety and depression. It can also reduce your tiredness and increase your confidence. Physical benefits include: Heart health Strengthens your muscles Bone health Improves your balance Increased your flexibility and helps with stiffness It is usually safe to start doing some physical activity during or after treatment. Here is how to get started safely: Talk to your team: Ask your Oncologist, specialist nurse, or GP what activity they recommend and for any advice on how to proceed. Listen to your body: Activity is encouraged, but certain treatments mean adjusting your limits or types of exercise…

Wayne - Online Community Team
Avoiding cancer misinformation and finding trusted support online

There are lots of websites where you can find reliable health information and trusted support. You might also come across information online that is misleading or incorrect. Every day, thousands of people can find out-of-date, misleading and unproven information about cancer online, often without realising. This can happen on search engines like 'Dr Google', social media and AI chat tools. Sometimes people share information because they are trying to help, but it may not be accurate or based on evidence. In this blog we will be sharing members experiences with the aim of helping you find trusted information online. Searching online for cancer information “I know I shouldn't google but I have done and now I'm really scared.“ - Community member When you are waiting to speak to healthcare…

Steph - Online Community Team
Toxic positivity and cancer: why listening matters

Positivity can be helpful when dealing with cancer. Hope, encouragement, and support can make a real difference during difficult times. But when positivity dismisses or overlooks someone's genuine feelings, it can become unhelpful. This is often what people mean when they talk about toxic positivity. Three years ago, we published our first blog on toxic positivity. The topic sparked a lot of discussion as many members related to the concept. In this blog, we share members' experiences of toxic positivity and helpful resources for talking about cancer. What Community members have shared Positive comments often come from a place of care, but they can sometimes make it harder for people to express how they are really feeling. “When somebody tells me to stay positive and that I’ll beat…

Dylan - Online Community Team
Feeling the heat? Here are some tips to help you stay cool

This week, parts of the UK will reach record-breaking temperatures. It's nice to be able to enjoy the summer weather, but wherever you are and whatever your plans are, we hope you manage to stay cool and be safe in the sunshine. This blog can be used as a useful resource if you're looking for some guidance on keeping cool in the heat. If you have any tips that you'd like to share, there's a comment box at the bottom of the page. Click here to add your comment. The heat may affect you in different ways when you’re living with cancer. You may find that the side effects of treatment are making it difficult for you to stay hydrated and regulate your body temperature. On the Community, there are people who understand what you’re going through, so we’re sharing some tips to help you stay cool…

Megan- Online Community Team