Community News - Macmillan Online Community

Breaking down the barriers and blushes

Last week we published the ‘why do I feel so guilty?’ blog exploring why we may feel guilty when living with, or being affected by cancer. Today we are talking about embarrassment because it’s often a feeling many people experience when it comes to talking about your body. On the Online Community, we often see members posting about how embarrassed they feel to talk about parts of their body with friends, family and medical professionals. Embarrassment shouldn’t hold you back from getting the support you need so in this blog we’re sharing some of the discussions from our Community groups to help break down the barriers and the blushes of feeling embarrassed when being affected by cancer. Embarrassment is described as a feeling of shame, awkwardness, and becoming self-conscious about something…

Megan- Online Community Team
'Why do I feel so guilty?'

Guilt - one of the most confusing and hard to understand emotions out there. Sometimes, we can feel guilty without quite knowing exactly what we are feeling guilty about. Guilt can also feel like a very irrational emotion. Sometimes we know that what we are feeling guilty about isn’t our fault, yet it can still be hard to shake that feeling of guilt. Whenever anything big happens in our lives, we can feel lots of different emotions, sometimes even feeling things we haven’t felt before. When you, or a loved one, is diagnosed with cancer it’s understandable to feel a whole range of emotions. These emotions can include anger, sadness, confusion and even guilt. There is no wrong or right way to feel and not everyone will feel these emotions. The most important thing is to be kind to yourself…

Former Member
Support from Macmillan with funeral arrangements

Funerals can be difficult in lots of ways. It can be easy to feel isolated or overwhelmed if you are planning a funeral. It can also be hard to cope with feeling excluded from a funeral or the planning process. While for some people, funerals are a helpful way to find closure and say goodbye, this might not be true for everyone. In today’s blog, we are going to talk through support options from Macmillan and reassurance from the Online Community that you are not on your own. It’s natural to feel lots of different emotions around a funeral, and the Online Community is here to help. All of the quotes we’re featuring are from our “Bereaved spouses and partners” group and our “Bereaved family and friends” group . These groups are safe spaces to find support and talk about your experiences with…

Eliza - Macmillan
Breast cancer and femininity: Issy’s story

Did a breast cancer diagnosis change how you felt about yourself or your relationship with a partner? Macmillan’s Digital Storytelling Project is where people affected by cancer have created their own videos to talk about their experiences. Issy is one of our stories of the month for September, where we will be focusing on cancer, sex and our relationship with our bodies. Issy talks about her feelings about her body and sexuality before, during and after her diagnosis and treatment. Her video talks about her relationship and what helped her to feel connected with being intimate. “I was determined that cancer was not going to take away the person I was and was even more determined that my sense of femininity and sexuality would not be affected.” Issy’s story is called “When the lights…

Eliza - Macmillan
Catching up with the Family and Friends group

A family member’s or a friend’s diagnosis can have a huge impact on your life. It’s natural to want to find support for yourself while you’re supporting a loved one with cancer. Here in the Community, we have lots of different groups where you can chat to people who may have a similar cancer diagnosis to your family member. These are all safe spaces to ask questions and find support. However, sometimes it can be really helpful to be able to talk to other people who can understand how you feel as a friend or relative. That’s why we also have our “Family and friends” group . In the Community News blog today, we’re going to feature some recent discussions from the group and show you what members have been talking about recently. Remember you can click the links underneath each post to go to the…

Eliza - Macmillan
Cancer, pleasure and intimacy: Sarah-Jane’s story

Sarah-Jane found it difficult to cope with how her gynaecological cancer diagnosis and treatment affected her experience of pleasure and intimacy. The lack of information from her medical team and conversations around how a woman’s intimate relationship with their body and sex can change during and after cancer treatment left her feeling invisible. Macmillan’s Digital Storytelling Project is where people affected by cancer have created their own videos to talk about their experiences. Sarah-Jane is one of our stories of the month for September, where we will be focusing on cancer, sex and our relationship with our bodies. For many people, your sex life and sexual health can be important parts of your life before, during and after cancer. September is also Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month…

Eliza - Macmillan
Coming to terms with a cancer diagnosis

This blog is looking at how our Community members process the news of a cancer diagnosis. Some mourn and grieve for the life they once knew before being impacted by cancer and some find comfort from having the answers they may have been waiting a long time for. However you are feeling, you're not alone. There's others talking about how they they are coping here on the Community so stay and read this blog to hopefully draw some comfort from these shared experiences. Do you find yourself mourning for the life before cancer? The term mourning is usually described as an expression of sorrow and is typically used in the context of someone passing away. When someone dies, you mourn this loss. For some, when they are diagnosed with cancer, it can feel like you have lost a part or version of you…

Megan- Online Community Team
Finding Cancer Support Online – Where do I start?

We know from our Online Community that dealing with cancer can be overwhelming. People with cancer and their family members, or loved ones, often look for emotional support and practical advice or ways to get involved with others for cancer support online. With Macmillan’s Online Community, you have come to the right place to talk to others who understand. Here you can find peer support and talk to other people with real lived cancer experience. www.youtube.com/watch But where do you start? In today’s Community News Blog that’s exactly what we’re talking about. We're highlighting all the different support available on the Community and also providing tips to help you get started. Using the Online Community The first thing to say is that we know new websites or technologies can be overwhelming…

Tom C - Macmillan
Online Community downtime: Thursday 18th August 2022- 7am to 9am

There is some planned maintenance taking place on Macmillan’s website on Thursday 21st July, 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 - 9am On Thursday 18th August 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
The power of shared support on Macmillan's Online Community

When you first join the Community, supporting others might be the last thing on your mind. You might have just received a cancer diagnosis , feeling alone and fearful of what lies ahead. You might be reeling with news of a loved one’s diagnosis and not sure how you’ll cope. You might be struggling with cancer treatment and just want someone to talk to in the middle of the night. Although finding support might be your initial need, you might be surprised to find that by simply posting here, your words will help to support others. We hope it brings you comfort to know that by sharing your personal experience here on the Community, you become part of a powerful social network of peer support . "I came on your thread to comfort you and you've given me comfort right back! Thank you" Community…

Steph - Online Community Team
What do you wish people would say? Katy’s story

Lots of members here on the Community talk about how it can be difficult to deal with unhelpful advice and reactions from other people when you have cancer. Katy is here to reassure you that you’re not alone if you’ve felt frustrated by what people say. This is our latest instalment in our series with with Macmillan’s Digital Storytelling Project, where people affected by cancer have created their own videos to talk about their experiences. For August’s Story of the Month, we’re featuring Katy. Katy was diagnosed with early stage cervical cancer in early 2021. Her video is all about how people can use a “cheat code” to be more helpful when talking to someone affected by cancer. “I don’t need you to cheer me up. I need you to tell me ‘yes, this does suck.’” Katy’s video is called “Cheat…

Eliza - Macmillan