Community News - Macmillan Online Community

"Indulge in a favourite past-time, watch boxsets, clean the house..." - Wellbeing Wednesdays: May

June’s here, and with it the Great British Summer...there’s still time for it to arrive, it's just over a week ‘til Summer officially begins. Here's something to brighten your day, our favourite wellbeing tips from you, our members, over the past month… “We all deal with this horrible situation in our own ways, but we all do understand. But I think for all of us the term taking life one hour at a time is never truer than in the first few weeks.” Mush brain “I was able to make a list of my worries, get that list down to bullet points and to set aside just a 10-minute period each day for looking at those worries, and the rest of the time just acknowledging them and putting them aside for that time.” KTatHome “Googling is a definite no-no, as that's just guaranteed to turn you into…

Former Member
"...joining this group has given me a safe place to open up..." - Carers Week

It’s Carers Week ! A time to celebrate carers, but also recognise the potential impact of being a carer, and ensure they’re aware of and able to access support available to them. Caring for someone with cancer can be emotionally and physically exhausting – it’s important for carers to take time to look after themselves, and get su pport if it’s needed. To recognise the above, I thought I’d share a few highlights from our Carers only group, where there’s an astounding amount of supportive discussions and guidance been offered up: "Nobody can do this journey for us, but sharing it makes a huge difference." Just a distracting moment – Birdfeeder shares a very heartfelt, positive post, talking about how the group’s helped her, and the friends she’s made along the way. “ Nobody can do this…

Former Member
Dining with an Ostomate - Butternut squash and sage risotto

Debbie, our resident ‘chef to the Ostomates’, is back this month with another tasty and nutritious recipe she’s been making following an ileostomy earlier this year. This week’s recipe is a tasty looking butternut squash and sage risotto. “Squash is easily digested from early on as an Ostomate, and makes a nice change from carrot or parsnip!” Debbie The health benefits of butternut squash are pretty well documented – they’re rich in fibre, vitamins (including A, B, C and E) and minerals such as calcium, magnesium and zinc. Just 3 tablespoons will count as one of your 5-a-day. As well as also being good for your immune system and bone health, butternut squash is great for digestion – on account of all that fibre! Butternut squash and sage risotto Serves 4, easily halved Ingredients…

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"...reading the message has lifted mine and my grandad's hopes." - Bladder Cancer Awareness Month

Off the back of rily’s Bladder Cancer Awareness Month piece last Monday, I thought I’d also throw a spotlight recognising the cancer by highlighting a few positive, helpful and interesting bits and pieces from our Bladder cancer group, as well as a little feedback received for the group. If you’re affected by bladder cancer, go ahead and share your tips of thoughts with us using the comments section below. Discussions: An Introduction – nickfreckle was diagnosed at the start of this year and posted in the group looking for support and guidance. Our members responded with a flood of guidance, sharing their experiences and offering support and comfort as best they could. "Huge thanks and much love to everyone on the site, it's been a lifeline in the dark days, and an inspiration on the…

Former Member
"Everything you say describes how I'm feeling..." - Skin Cancer Awareness Month

May marks Skin Cancer Awareness Month, so to recognise this I thought I’d put the spotlight on our Skin cancer and Melanoma groups, and highlight a few really positive, helpful and interesting discussions that have been going on in the groups. I’ve also put together a few ‘top tips’ that members of these groups have been sharing – but if you’re affected by skin cancer, go ahead and share your tips of thoughts with us in the comments section below. Discussions: "It’s reassuring to see how well skin can potentially heal." One year post-surgery – Sue, known to the Skin cancer group as Ess , had an operation for BCC removal in November 2017 – this included a skin graft. She’s shared several positive photos of her progress and recovery since then. “Your photos give others hope that the skin…

Former Member
"Bladder cancer isn't a rare cancer, even though it's rarely talked about." - Bladder Cancer Awareness Month

t May marks Bladder Cancer Awareness Month, and to recognise this, rily – Community Champion for our Bladder cancer group, has put together a few facts about the cancer, and shared with us his story to date. The below makes for an eye-opening and honest read... Some facts about bladder cancer: 10,000 people are diagnosed with bladder cancer in the UK every year. There are more than 200 known cancers and bladder cancer is the 5 th most common in the Western World. For men, it’s the 4 th most common in the UK, and 7 th Bladder cancer isn’t a rare cancer, even though it’s rarely talked about. Once regarded as an older person’s disease, we’re seeing more and more younger people being diagnosed. Bladder cancer has the highest recurrence rate of any cancer. It is the most expensive…

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"...don't immediately start to focus on the worst-case scenario..." - Meet the Champs: latchbrook

Following last month's 'Meet the Champs' Q&A with MikeO , this month we meet latchbrook , who’s been with the Community since early 2017. You'll find latchbrook champing our Melanoma , Skin cancer and Travel insurance groups, and also welcoming newbies to the Community in our New to the Community group, and giving them a ‘nudge’ in the right direction - what a busy Champion she is! How long have you been using the Online Community, and what brought you to the site? I have been an active member of the site since the beginning of 2017, although I had lurked around a bit before feeling confident enough to post. I’d been diagnosed with a malignant melanoma in November 2016 completely out of the blue and wanted to find more information about this type of cancer. I didn’t think to look…

Former Member
"We discussed how to talk to the people we love..." - Attending a Death Café...

This week marks Dying Matters Awareness Week , and to recognise this, David – author of our recent Life after cancer piece, is back to share his thoughts on death – in particular, his recent visit to a Death Café – something he describes as being a “remarkable” experience. David’s piece also coincides with Macmillan’s current ‘Let’s Talk About Death’ campaign, which seeks to encourage people to have conversations about death and plans for it. You can find out more on Macmillan's campaign, alonside information and support on making plans, via this page of our website. Enjoy… The doctors, huddled at the end of my hospital bed are muttering, just out of earshot. My sister is staring at me, trying to lock my gaze, as if she is searching for an answer, or a reassurance of some kind. I feel…

Former Member
What should I take to treatment?

Finding out you have cancer can be an incredibly emotional and challenging experience. There’ll likely be more than enough questions and concerns running through your head without having to worry about the small things - such as, “what should I bring with me to the hospital when I go for treatment?” I’ve compiled suggestions across the Community from our members, and put them together to form a small check-list. “Trashy TV, films on iPad or DVDs…Favourite music, comfy headphones…Magazines…Favourite duvets/pillows, plus plenty of changes as daily laundry will be needed.” “Did anyone mention lip cream or a moisturiser? My lips in the dry air of the room cracked continuously. One other thing that was useful was an extension lead, so I could plug in all my bits and bobs by the bed and have…

Former Member
"...try not to let it take over so much that it stops you enjoying the things you usually find pleasurable in your day.” - Wellbeing Wednesdays: April

May’s here, so without further ado, here’s a summary of April’s Wellbeing tips. We’ve revamped our ‘Wellbeing Wednesday’ tips since last month – going forwards we’ll be choosing tips shared with the Community by our members. Here are a few highlights for April… 'Keep doing what you’re doing, or even start doing something else' Tim90 – “Keep doing what you’re doing, or even start doing something else. Don’t put a block in the way. Be careful of course, don’t take unnecessary risks, but maybe you don’t have to put your life on hold.” Pollydog – “But what might help too is to say; be really kind to yourself. Let people you know, and love know how you are feeling – and if you can, let them listen and support you.” 'Plan yourself some treats to look forward to.' Fairycake – “Plan yourself…

Former Member
"Cancer must not define who we are..."

Whether it’s drawing a picture, painting, writing a song or perhaps a poem, being creative is for many people a great way to improve your mental wellbeing. Having spoken to a lot of our Community members about their experiences, I often hear that being creative has helped provide them with an escape or diversions to where cancer’s no longer a central focus. Our Express yourself group’s a space where members showcase their creations, so as a way of encouraging others to perhaps do the same, I thought I’d share a few highlights from the group for those who haven’t yet ventured into it. Enjoy… 'Bad and good!' by Blot3 Because of my hectic work and home life, I've found it difficult to vent. Whilst having rads I stayed away from home and decided to get down on paper what was really affecting…

Former Member
"I once had a pub lunch with Judi Dench..." - Meet the Champs: MikeO

Following on from last month's 'Meet the Champs' Q&A with Greg777 , this month we meet MikeO , who you'll find Champing our Head and neck cancer group . Enjoy... How long have you been using the Community, and what brought you to the site? I found the Community not long after my diagnosis in October 2013, after a bit of manic Googling had got me terrified for my prospects I calmed down and looked for a more balanced view. I've always been a big user of internet forums since first taking the plunge into the computer age in 2004 and I'm active in several, travel based some of them but mostly an Everton football club forum that I'm a co-admin on (somebody has to do it). Not a fan of social media in the Facebook or Twitter sense but I like to get to 'know' people on forums so the Macmillan…

Former Member

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