Community News - Macmillan Online Community

Are you feeling better, or just distracted?

For people affected by cancer, managing your mental well-being is an ongoing challenge. Distraction can play a useful part in that. Distraction can mean different things to different people, talk of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ distractions can be confusing for those just looking to take a break from worry or stress. The last year and a half with coronavirus has made it even more challenging for cancer patients, and their family and friends, to find effective distractions. In today’s Community News Blog, we’re talking about distractions, be they ‘good’ or ‘bad’. 'Good' Distractions We wanted to start by sharing a poem by one of our members, Bluebell Woods . TV. Day time. Quiz shows, news, Real Deals. Breakfast TV, loose woman? Maybe not at that stage, yet. Granny. Blankets. Graduating to a hat. Nothing…

Tom C - Online Community team
Cancer and fatigue. When do you start feeling less tired?

In our recent Community News Blog 'Awake and can't sleep? Some help with getting through the night' we addressed the issue of difficulty sleeping. We shared conversations from members around the Community around sleeplessness and getting support through the night. If this might be helpful to you, you can catch up with Eliza's blog here. You don't need to be experiencing difficulty sleeping to feel tired when you have cancer. Cancer itself and cancer treatment can both cause extreme tiredness, also known as 'fatigue'. We know that many of you come to the Community looking for support with managing your energy levels and improving your quality of life. In this Community News Blog, we'll be sharing some conversations, tips and support about fatigue shared around the site. Fatigue means feeling…

Steph - Online Community Team
Awake and can't sleep? Some help with getting through the night

Difficulty sleeping, also known as insomnia, can be hard to deal with. If you or a loved one has a cancer diagnosis, not getting enough sleep can sometimes cause additional difficulties. The Online Community is here for you at any time in the day or night. Sleep problems may be caused by how you’re feeling emotionally, or as part of the side effects for cancer treatment. If you find it hard to have a good sleep, you’re not alone. Here in Community News, we’re here to help you find support. Macmillan has information and support around insomnia and having difficulty sleeping on our website . This webpage discusses different sleep problems, how a lack of good sleep can affect you and how you can change your sleep habits to potentially help you to sleep better. “I think night times are often…

Eliza -Online Community Team
Breast cancer awareness month

October is Breast cancer awareness month around the UK and as part of this, we'd like to feature what’s discussed in our Breast cancer forums here on the Community. The different Breast cancer forums have around 11,725 members who offer each other support every day, including all hours of the night. If you’ve visited the Breast cancer forums you will have seen there’s lots of discussions about symptoms, treatment options and side effects. There’s also lots of friendly and reassuring support so stay and read the rest of the blog if you’re thinking of joining, or if you’re looking for some support. “It’s always helpful just to know you’re not alone and to talk about it so thank you for replying.” Community member, BRACA positive forum “I think being able to talk to someone that has been…

Megan- Online Community Team
September Community Catch up

Let’s take a look back at what’s been happening on the Community over the last month. Not everyone is logged onto the site everyday and with so many people coming to one place to access support, it can take some time to catch up with what’s been going on over the past few weeks. This month we welcomed 2,041 new members to the Online Community. With more and more people joining the site, we are seeing more people share experiences. Cancer patients, loved ones and carers posted 3,147 replies which shows how much support is offered from you, our members, every day. There are many different reasons for visiting the Community, but once you're here, you’ll find that you’re not alone in dealing with your situation. There are thousands of people sharing their experiences and offering a comforting…

Megan- Online Community Team
MDS, MPN, ET, PV and MF - support with rarer blood cancers

September was 'blood cancer awareness month' and we shared a Community News blog about the support available on the Community. You can catch up here , if you haven’t yet had a read. We’re following up on September's blood cancer awareness blog to let you know we’ve created a new forum for rarer blood cancers. You can find the new myelodysplasia (MDS) & myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) forum within the ' other cancers group' here on the Community. If you’re looking for support with myelodysplasia (MDS) or myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) including essential thrombocythaemia (ET), polycythaemia vera (PV) and myelofibrosis (MF), the Community now has a dedicated space for you. When you or your loved one are diagnosed with one of these rarer blood cancers, it's likely that you hadn't…

Steph - Online Community Team
Urology Awareness Month

Urology. Defined in the Oxford dictionary as the branch of medicine concerned with the function and disorders of the urinary system. It’s always been a sensitive topic and often leads to not getting the medical attention that is required when a problem occurs in this area. In fact, according to the research done by Bupa , one in five UK adults who have experienced potential cancer symptoms, have not seen a doctor due to being too embarrassed to go. In this blog, we take a look at the Community to help break down the stigma of embarrassment and taking better precautions to look after our urological health. Listed below are the different areas in the urological system than can be affected by cancer. They are as follows: Prostate Bladder Kidney Testicular Penile Each link contains…

Syed - Macmillan
Making cancer treatment decisions

When you have been diagnosed with cancer, you may have a choice of different treatments you could have. Depending on your diagnosis, you might also be considering whether you would like to have any treatment. Making decisions about cancer treatments for yourself or a loved one can sometimes be difficult. It’s important that you feel you have all the information and support you might need to make the right informed decision for you. “I have changed my mind numerous times over the last week but I think that I could go on re-evaluating the pros and cons for ever and a day.” Community member, Prostate cancer forum It’s natural to have lots of questions about cancer treatment, whether you are a cancer patient or a family member. You might be feeling worried about side effects and quality of…

Eliza -Online Community Team
The worry of waiting

Waiting for test results can be a difficult time. It may take days or weeks for the results of your tests to be ready. You may be waiting for your treatment to start or to speak with the consultant about a concern you have, either way, waiting can be hard. The waiting for results and dealing with the unknown blog explores that if you’re feeling worried, you’re not alone in feeling this way. Click on the link if you’ve not yet read this blog. Today we’re going to look at some of the practical things you can do when you’re waiting. It’s good to reach out for support if you’re feeling worried and anxious and the Community is here to offer some friendly reassurance and support. Have you been in a similar position to these members? If you have found yourself in a similar situation to these…

Megan- Online Community Team
Can we talk about vulvar and vaginal cancers?

Can we talk openly about vulvas and vaginas? It’s Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month and we’re taking the opportunity to raise awareness of the rarer gynae cancers. We understand that many people find sexual organs to be an embarrassing or awkward subject. Many people might not even know the correct names for these body parts. So what happens if you get diagnosed with cancer (or a pre-cancerous condition) ‘down there’? We’re highlighting how women, trans men and non-binary people can find support from the Community. It’s a place where you can be completely anonymous and chat with others in similar circumstances. Whether you’ve just been diagnosed with vulval/vaginal cancer, need emotional support or practical tips to help with healing after surgery, you’re likely to find someone…

Steph - Online Community Team
Alone in this, together. Blood cancer awareness.

Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be an isolating experience. "Im just feeling so lonely because I cant talk to my loved ones about my fears because I know how much it will make them be afraid!" julielovesGoats, New to the Community group . This can be even more true for those who receive a rarer cancer diagnosis, like some blood disorders. In today’s Community News Blog we’re hoping to create a space where those diagnosed with a rarer cancer can come together and share their experience. We will also share some resources and direction for those affected by blood disorders, to honour blood cancer awareness month this September. Feeling isolated is something that most people have experienced in the last year in one way or another. The Online Community is here to remind you that you are not alone…

Tom C - Online Community team
Parents of children with cancer: do you feel supported?

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month . Today on Community News, we’re talking about parents. No matter how old your child is when they are diagnosed with cancer, the news can still be devastating. A child’s diagnosis can affect all family members, and it’s important to find the right support. “[I am] finding some comfort in the fact that there are other people who have gone through and go through what I am going through…My son has had a malignant aggressive tumour found in his femur. It has all been INCREDIBLY quick. Our world has been turned upside down.” Community member, “Parents of children with cancer” forum Here in the Online Community, many members say things like that it can really help to share experiences. Lots of members have talked about looking after their child…

Eliza -Online Community Team

Awake and up all night?

We know that cancer can sometimes cause sleepless nights. Join our Cancer Chat forum for some company here in the 'Awake and up all night' thread.

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