Community News - Macmillan Online Community

When Positivity Hurts: Insights from the Online Community

Maintaining a positive outlook can be incredibly helpful when coping with a cancer diagnosis. Although positivity has a role to play in staying emotionally healthy, it isn’t always healthy when it becomes the only focus. A number of Online Community members have shared how painful and isolating it can feel if a loved one repeats certain positive phrases or overly optimistic attitudes whilst ignoring the more authentic negative feelings a person might be struggling with. When a focus on positivity dismisses someone’s true feelings, it can become “toxic.” We published our first blog on toxic positivity in 2023. It resonated deeply with the Community, inspiring us to write a follow-up blog last year. Now, we’re back with part three. This edition highlights members' comments from Toxic Positivity…

Dylan - Macmillan
The power of peer support- the Online Community in 2024

Each year we are humbled by the kindness and compassion our members show each other every day on the Community. W e would like to take a moment to celebrate the power of peer support in 2024. Over 21,900 new members joined us this year looking for company and connection. Around 179,000 posts, blogs, and replies were made , alongside 125,739 virtual hugs and hearts were sent. It is amazing to see so many of you supporting each other through a cancer diagnosis, treatment, and side effects alongside the emotional effects of cancer. The power of peer support Connecting with people who are in the same situation as you can be a vital part of your support system when living with cancer or supporting someone who is. It can help you feel less alone when talking to someone who knows how you are…

Megan- Macmillan
The Online Community Festive Quiz - 2024 Edition

Frost-kissed windows, bald trees and hedges become a platform the robin redbreast’s grand, virtuoso winter performance that fills the chilly air with a sense of warmth and comfort. You could say ‘tis the most wonderful time of the year. That being said, guess who’s back? Back again. The quiz is back! Tell a friend. After extensive research, conducted by hundreds of researchers. Kidding. This year, we’re going to continue using the same format as the previous quiz. Multiple choice questions, a variety of them surrounding the festive theme. We hope you’re warm, cosy and comfortable this holiday season. So grab a mince pie, a cuppa or any food that will keep your belly warm, as it’s time for the 2024 Online Community Festive Quiz. How to play It’s very simple, you use the voting buttons…

Syed - Macmillan
Hair care, hair loss and styling tips from the Community

Are you having treatment and worried about losing your hair? Or do you have questions about styling hair changes? This blog includes some recent experiences and suggestions from Community members across our different groups. There are some great support resources and information to help you cope with hair loss, and we will include some of these towards the end of the blog. We know that hearing the experiences of others can be invaluable when learning how to manage side effects like hair loss, hair styling and maintenance, so we hope you will find the following helpful. Hair loss Coming to the forums to ask questions about hair loss can help you manage and process any hair loss side effects of treatment: “After chemotherapy, when the hair starts growing back, has anyone had experience…

Megan- Macmillan
The Cancer Experience Forums – finding peer support to match your situation

What’s in a name? The meaning of ‘Cancer Experiences’ might not be as obvious as ‘Cancer Types’, but it’s a good way of summarising the wide variety of support groups you can find in this section. While the Cancer Types section helps members with a similar diagnosis to find and support one another, the groups in the Cancer Experiences section gathers people around the various situations and circumstances they might encounter when cancer impacts the life of themselves or a loved one. When you visit the Cancer Experiences section, you will find all of the support groups listed in alphabetical order. To help you discover which groups might be most relevant to you, this blog aims to organise the different support groups into a few common categories for you to browse. New members and general…

Matthew - Macmillan
Diagnosed as a younger adult - support from the Online Community

In our recent blog ' Getting cancer at our age is such a shock - supporting adults in their 20's, 30's and 40's on the Online Community' we discussed how b eing diagnosed as a younger adult might mean you are more likely to need support with issues around relationships, fertility, family, money and work. In the first of the two part blog, we shared experiences related to fertility and family, with a focus on children and other dependants. In this second part of the blog, we are highlighting conversations on relationships, career and finances. Although many of these issues do affect people living with cancer at any age, this short blog series focuses on the experiences of members who have been diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 20-50. Many people describe finding it difficult to…

Steph - Macmillan
“It’s their job to fight the cancer. Your job is to look after your body and soul and stay sane”: Insights from a Macmillan Online Community Champion

November is Mouth Cancer Awareness Month. A time to raise awareness and support for those affected by mouth cancers. We wanted to take the chance to highlight our Head and Neck Cancer Forum , where members can connect, share experiences, and find support from others who understand what they’re going through. In this blog, we’re sharing insights from MikeO . He joined the Community shortly after his diagnosis and now plays an important role as one of our Community Champions, helping our team keep the Head and Neck Cancer forum safe and supportive. When I got my first cancer diagnosis, in 2013, I found out fairly quickly that I was nothing special. Surgery (neck dissection), and radiotherapy (seven weeks) with a dash of chemo thrown in was a well-worn path. I was scared, and my family were…

Dylan - Macmillan
Winter Picture Festival 2024

You may remember our Winter Picture Festival , where many of you have shared what winter looks like for you. Across the site, we know many of our members love sharing pictures from their walks, crafts, pets and paintings. The Winter Picture Festival is a celebration of your creativity, and an opportunity to bring joy to yourself and other members here on the Online Community. This year, we’ve decided to host another Winter Picture Festival! To join in with the Winter Picture Festival, all you need to do is upload a picture in the "Winter Picture Festival" discussion thread . We’ve set up a discussion thread in the “Express Yourself” forum . We’d love to see everyone getting involved using the “Reaction” buttons to let other members know you liked their picture! It would be lovely see…

Eliza - Macmillan
"Getting cancer at our age is such a shock" - supporting adults in their 20's, 30's and 40's on the Online Community

In this first of a two-part blog, we will be investigating the support available from the Online Community when you are diagnosed as a younger adult. Being diagnosed in your 20's, 30's or 40's might mean you are more likely to need support with issues around relationships, fertility, family, money and work. In this blog, we will focus on shared experiences, fertility and family. You might be thinking about starting a family; have young children, teenagers, elderly parents or other dependants to care for. You can find the second part of the blog here which will feature conversations on relationships, career and finances. Talking about cancer, with people who understand Lots of people find it can help to have someone to talk to when you have been referred for tests for cancer, have recently…

Steph - Macmillan
Black History Month – Support and Solidarity on the Online Community

October is Black History Month in the UK, which has been celebrated nationwide for over 30 years. The theme for this year is ‘Reclaiming narratives’, which is around sharing and recognising the contributions of Black individuals and their stories. As part of recognising and celebrating Black History Month, today we are sharing available support and Black people living with cancer who have shared their story on the Online Community. We’re also sharing reflections on Black History Month from Francesca Okosi, Macmillan’s Chief People & Culture Officer. The first Black History Month in the UK took place in 1987 and was arranged by Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, who came to the UK from Ghana as a refugee in 1984. 1987 marked the 150th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the Caribbean. Black History…

Eliza - Macmillan
Lung cancer support: Catching up with the Lung cancer forum

Next month is Lung Cancer Awareness Month . In this Community News Blog, we’re catching up with our Lung cancer forum . This supportive online group is for anyone affected by lung cancer, whether you’ve been diagnosed or are supporting a loved one. It’s a place to share your thoughts, worries, and experiences with people who understand what you're going through. Read on to see what discussions have taken place in our Lung cancer forum recently. "I'm so glad I've decided to join as I've been reading all your amazing posts of support." Community member – Lung cancer forum Coping with pain and treatment side effects For many, managing the physical pain of lung cancer can be overwhelming. The Lung cancer forum is a safe space where you can share your struggles and ask questions. A member…

Dylan - Macmillan
Let's talk about early menopause

This Menopause Awareness Month, Boots and Macmillan Cancer Support are raising awareness of early menopause caused by cancer treatment, shining a light on the experience of those impacted and the support available through their partnership. This blog will share some support information and personal experiences of those from our Online Community. Macmillan & Boots- raising awareness together New analysis from Macmillan Cancer Support reveals that an estimated 60,000 women with cancer under 50 in the UK are struggling with hormone-related side-effects of cancer treatment such as early menopause [1] . “I finished treatment a year ago. Started menopause at 33 had a radical hysterectomy followed by chemo, radiotherapy and brachytherapy. I am on oestrogen pessary and patches. Any advice would…

Megan- Macmillan