Community News - Macmillan Online Community

Managing cancer and side effects at work: Elvina’s story

Do you feel you have the right support at work? Lots of people affected by cancer, like Elvina, don’t always feel they have the support they need from their employer, manager, or from the sickness policies in place at work. Lots of people may feel worried about work when they are affected by cancer. Here in the Online Community, we’re featuring a new series working with Macmillan’s Digital Storytelling Project, where people affected by cancer have created their own videos to talk about their experiences. As July’s story of the month, Elvina is sharing her experiences of working while affected by cancer and what employers need to do better. “How am I going to get through this work shift today?” Elvina’s video, titled “You Look Well,” is about her experiences at work following her cancer…

Eliza -Online Community Team
Rebellious hope – Reflecting on the legacy of Dame Deborah James

Credit: Dan Williams / The Sun / News Licensing Here on the Community team, we were all very saddened to hear that Dame Deborah James had passed away from Bowel cancer at the end of June. After spending some time reflecting on what she meant to those affected by Bowel cancer, and thinking about her amazing legacy, we wanted to dedicate today’s Community News Blog to Deborah and all those who knew and loved her. Deborah was an incredible inspiration to so many and fought to raise awareness of Bowel cancer and the vital importance of breaking the taboo around talking about poo. Our Community members were understandably impacted by Deborah’s passing. Below are some of the many tributes for Deborah our members posted. We hope you will join us in keeping her family and loved ones in your thoughts…

Former Member
Representing the Online Community at Pride

I'm Eliza from the Community team. This year, I was able to represent Macmillan’s Online Community at York Pride 2022. It was an amazing day full of reflection, support and community. I wanted to share this experience with you all here on the Online Community, and let you know what the day was like and why it was important. If you’re not sure what Pride is, it’s a historic celebration with events and protests across the world to celebrate and recognise the LGBTQ+ community’s history and experiences. Pride is also about recognising the LGBTQ+ community’s ongoing struggles and the need for equality. Pride events take place mainly across June each year. You can find out more in this BBC article about what Pride is and why people celebrate it . Why was I representing Macmillan’s Online Community…

Eliza -Online Community Team
Online Community downtime- Thursday 30th June, 7am to 10am

There is some planned maintenance taking place on Macmillan’s website on Thursday 30th June, from 7am-10am. So that this essential maintenance can take place, the Online Community will experience some downtime. This means that members will not be able to log in, or join the Online Community, between 7 am - 10am On Thursday 30th June 2022. We know how important the Community is as a source of support for our members, so we always do our best to ensure the site is not unavailable for any longer than necessary. Please know that while the site is down, although you will not be able to create an account, log into the site or post, you will still be able to view the Community and read posts and discussions for support. We understand that this may impact members who rely on the Online Community…

Megan- Online Community Team
"How are you?" - Counselling support for people living with cancer

“How are you?” We all know this question can sometimes be a tricky one to answer. We also know it’s important to ask others how they are feeling, but don’t always take the time to ask ourselves how we are doing. Often, we brush off the question with a quick ‘Yes fine thanks, how’re you?’ but maybe it’s time to take a moment to really think about how you are feeling and whether you have the right emotional support in place for you. When you have been affected by cancer, answering this question can sometimes feel even harder. Receiving a cancer diagnosis can impact your mental health and emotional wellbeing. In today’s Community news blog, we are talking about what support is available to help you explore the answer to that important question… ‘How are you?’ Exploring how you are feeling…

Former Member
Coping with anticipatory grief when you're supporting someone living with cancer

The feeling of grief and loss before a loved one’s passing is something that is often discussed here on the Community. If you’re feeling this way at the moment, or have done in the past, you’re not alone. This blog is exploring anticipatory grief and hopefully you’ll find some comfort and ways of processing anticipatory grief after reading the following. What is anticipatory grief? Anticipatory grief can be experienced when you’re aware of an impending loss. It’s the feeling like you're coping with bereavement before a loved one dies. The feelings associated with grief, such as sadness, guilt, anger and denial, don't only surface after a loved one has died. It’s not uncommon to start the grieving process before a loved one’s passing. “Someone wrote on one of the chats that when someone…

Megan- Online Community Team
Cancer and Peripheral Neuropathy - support from the Online Community

Online Community members are affected not only by cancer, but other conditions caused by cancer or cancer treatment . The Community is a place where people can come together and share experiences and tips so you don’t have to go through it alone. Peripheral neuropathy is damage to the nerves connecting the brain, spinal cord and the rest of the body. It can be caused by cancer, or its treatment, and is one side effect we hear mentioned a lot across the Community. In today’s Community News Blog, we will be highlighting some of the support shared across different forums in relation to peripheral neuropathy . Members of the Community often share experiences of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and how it affects quality of life following chemotherapy treatment “Hi anyone else got…

Steph - Online Community Team
Kidney Cancer Support

We know how important support groups can be after a cancer diagnosis. For kidney (or renal) cancer patients and loves ones alike, it’s important you have somewhere to reach out for support and connection. Today we’re catching up with our Kidney cancer forum. Whether it’s you or a loved one with a renal cancer (or any other form of kidney cancer) diagnosis, there is always somewhere to reach out for support. There are different types of kidney cancer. Whilst most kidney cancer diagnoses are renal cell carcinoma, we appreciate it is not always the case and our kidney cancer forum is for all cancer diagnoses related to the kidneys. In today’s Community News Blog we’re going to highlight some recent conversations from the forum. We’ll also talk about the kind of support you are likely to find…

Tom C - Online Community team
Sharing scalp cooling experiences

There’s no one size fits all when it comes to cancer treatment and dealing with side effects . Although there can be common side effects such as hair loss, sickness and fatigue , not everyone will experience them. Hair loss seems to be a side effect that many people worry about when having chemotherapy treatment and the use of a scalp cooling system (also referred to as the cold cap ) may have been mentioned to you. If you’re wanting to hear from those who have used the scalp cooling system ( cold cap ), or are curious about what scalp cooling is, then this blog has what you are looking for. You can also find our most recent blog about scalp cooling, hair loss and regrowth here. Here on the Online Community we often see questions like the following posted on the site. If you have a…

Megan- Online Community Team
Online Community downtime, Tuesday 14th June, 5am-10am

There is some planned maintenance taking place on Macmillan’s website on Tuesday 14th June, from 5am-10am. So that this essential maintenance can take place, the Online Community will experience some downtime. This means that members will not be able to log in, or join the Online Community, between 5am - 10am On Tuesday 14th June 2022. We know how important the Community is as a source of support for our members, so we always do our best to ensure the site is not unavailable for any longer than necessary. Please know that while the site is down, although you will not be able to create an account, log into the site or post, you will still be able to view the Community and read posts and discussions for support. We understand that this may impact members who rely on the Online Community…

Ellen - Macmillan
Cancer and covid as a deaf person: Eleni’s story

Do you feel like your cancer experience changed you? Here in the Online Community, we’re featuring a new series working with Macmillan’s Digital Storytelling Project, where people affected by cancer have created their own videos to talk about their experiences. For June’s Story of the Month, we’re featuring Eleni. Eleni has created a video to share their experience of receiving a cancer diagnosis as a deaf person. Their video is called ‘Will I still be the same?” Eleni wrote the following to describe what their video is about, in their own words: “The challenges of facing cancer through Covid as a deaf person. How I struggled to keep my identity during isolation and cancer treatment, and the realisation of how my own strength and connections with family, friends and the Deaf Cancer…

Eliza -Online Community Team
Have you tried expressing yourself? Creativity and coping with member Wee Me

Creativity can be a helpful tool to find comfort and support. For Community member and Macmillan volunteer Wee Me, the Online Community’s “Express yourself” group and taking the time to be creative has been invaluable throughout her experience with cancer. Wee Me’s husband was diagnosed with a Glioblastoma brain tumour in September 2020. Wee Me has shared her story on Community News. 6-12 June 2022 is Carers Week , and the theme this year is ‘'Make caring visible, valued and supported'. Writing and journaling have helped Wee Me to feel seen and supported. Today, Wee Me is here to talk about how you could give being creative a go, with support from the Community. I don’t know if you’ve discovered it yet but there’s a group within the Online Community called Express Yourself . This is a safe…

Eliza -Online Community Team