Community News - Macmillan Online Community

Do you need help managing stress

The focus of this month’s Wellbeing Wednesday is all about stress, as April is stress awareness month. As most of our members know, cancer can cause a range of emotions, including stress. Stress can impact mood, sleep, and overall wellbeing. Managing stress can be a challenge, so this blog features some coping strategies and lived experiences. Tips to help you manage stress Change your environment Something as simple as breathing in fresh air can help when stress gets out of control. When you feel under pressure, staying in the same environment for too long may make things worse. Before you know it, words seem to lose meaning and it’s hard to concentrate. Sometimes, it feels like your brain has suddenly stopped working, and this feeling can cause you to panic. Changing your scenery can…

Megan- Macmillan
What you wish you had known – cancer and farming communities

As part of Macmillan’s work with farming and rural communities the Online Community team have been working with The Farming Communities Network (FCN). Macmillan are committed to making cancer care fairer for everyone. This includes making sure that everyone has access to the right cancer support and encouraging people to seek help sooner. We want to make sure that the support available in our Online Community reaches people in farming and rural communities. To start the conversation, we have asked people from Farming Community Network what they wish they had known when they have been affected by cancer. Advice for farmers, from farmers living with cancer “For many people, speaking with other farmers can be especially valuable — they understand the unique pressures, worries, and practical…

Steph - Macmillan
Lights, Camera, Action – the Online Community spotlighted in Macmillan Emmerdale TV campaign

At the end of March, we shared a teaser blog about filming a new TV spotlight message for the Online Community. We want to reach more people living with and affected by cancer so we can be there for everyone who needs us. Today, we’re delighted to be able to tell you more about this important project and how members of the Community team have been involved. We can now share that Macmillan have partnered with ITV's Emmerdale , the much-loved British ‘soap opera’ to help raise awareness of the realities of a cancer diagnosis and the vital support that Macmillan can offer. Steph starred in an advert to appear after Emmerdale to spotlight the support available from the Online Community. Emmerdale’s prostate cancer story Macmillan is proud to be partnering with much-loved soap Emmerdale…

Steph - Macmillan
“AI is a really useful tool if used correctly.”

Advances in technology means Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being tried and tested to improve the way we live our lives. Some people use online AI tools to find information. From finding opening times for shops and looking for travel information when planning a trip. When it comes to cancer care, there is lots of information AI can provide, but do you know what information can be trusted? In this blog, we explore how Community members have used Artificial intelligence, and how AI is being used in cancer care. What is AI? Artificial intelligence (AI) is technology that helps computers perform a variety of tasks in ways that used to require human intelligence. From understanding language, analysing data, and even providing information. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is both part of the problem…

Megan- Macmillan
How to access support this Bank Holiday weekend

This bank holiday weekend, you may be celebrating some of the religious events or just looking forward to the long weekend by spending time with your loved ones. For lots of you who use the Online Community for support, it may not be a weekend filled with joy as you are waiting for test results, coping with treatment side effects, or supporting a loved one. You don’t have to be alone this weekend if you’re struggling and there’s support available. Hopefully, the following information will help you access the support you need this weekend. Use the Online Community 24/7 Connect with others in the Cancer forums to talk about how you are coping, ask questions, and share personal experiences. The Online Community is open 24/7 so you’re really not alone. If you're struggling with anything…

Megan- Macmillan
Lights! Camera! Action! Steph & Emma's Secret London Trip

Earlier in March, Steph and Emma from the Community team took part in a top-secret Macmillan TV project! I’m Steph and I’m excited to share some of our experience with you today. We travelled to London to film with a professional crew so that a message about the Online Community can appear on primetime television in the coming weeks. The filming was part of a larger project, designed to increase understanding and awareness of Macmillan services. We know just how important the Online Community can be to those who use it. Through our TV spotlight message, we hope to reach more people living with and affected by cancer so we can be be there for everyone who needs us. Intrigued? Whilst we can’t yet reveal full details of the project, we wanted to share a diary of our day in London and some…

Steph - Macmillan
Cancer treatment - Living with a PICC line

Do you have questions about living with a PICC line ? The Online Community is a great place to hear from others about their experiences. You can also ask clinical questions to our Cancer Information Nurse Specialists . In this blog, we’re highlighting conversations from the Online Community about PICC lines, and how you can take part. Getting a PICC line fitted For many members, the idea of having a PICC line fitted can feel worrying at first. In the Breast cancer forum , some members shared that the procedure itself was much easier than they expected. “the insertion of the PICC was absolutely painless, in fact I did not even know the procedure had been done.” “I was terrified of having it inserted but it didn't hurt me either.” Another member described how the process felt straightforward…

Dylan - Macmillan
March’s wellbeing Wednesday- Mindfulness, Music and Meditation

Waiting for test results and having treatment can cause issues with managing emotions and struggling to sleep. This blog includes some mind-body therapy information, alongside some wellbeing tips. These may be useful if you are having trouble sleeping or want to try some new coping strategies. Have you heard of mind-body therapies? Mind-body therapies are based on the belief that what we think and feel can affect how our bodies function. They have no effect on the cancer but may be used to help you feel less anxious, improve your mood and help you sleep. They may also help with symptoms such as pain or help you cope with side effects caused by cancer treatment. The mind-body therapies used by people with cancer in the UK include: relaxation techniques meditation mindfulness …

Megan- Macmillan
Bring your spring- Spring picture festival 2026

Today is the official start of spring, known as the spring equinox. It’s lovely to see colourful flowers bloom, sunshine, and wildlife after what feels like a very long winter. Across the site, we know many of our members love sharing their artwork, crafts, gardening, and pictures of beautiful walks. We want to celebrate your creativity and bring Spring to the Online Community. We're hosting our Spring Picture Festival- Bring your spring . To join in with the Spring Picture Festival, all you need to do is upload a picture in the "Spring Picture Festival" discussion thread. We’ve set up a discussion thread in the “Express Yourself” forum . We're hoping to gather a collection of your pictures and experiences in one discussion thread for everyone to look through and enjoy. We'll then be…

Megan- Macmillan
Neurodiversity Celebration Week: Living with cancer as a neurodivergent person

This week is Neurodiversity Celebration Week, so we wanted to take a moment to talk about the experience of living with cancer as a neurodivergent person. We've done a bit of research and looked at different experiences people have of living with cancer and being neurodivergent. Below are some of the challenges that can come up, along with a few tips we’ve come across that some people have found helpful. Everyone’s experience will be different, so if you are neurodivergent and living with cancer, we would love to hear from you. Reply to this blog to share your experiences, which may help others who are going through the same challenges. Receiving and processing a diagnosis Being told you have cancer can feel overwhelming for anyone. Neurodivergent people may process this news in different…

Moderator - Macmillan Community
Celebrating National Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist Day: Here for You When It Matters Most

National Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Day is on the 16 th March. The occasion shines a spotlight on the dedication, expertise and care that cancer nurses bring to supporting patients across the UK each and every day. From the moment of diagnosis and throughout treatment and recovery, Clinical Nurse Specialists are there to provide information, support and a familiar, trusted point of contact. Their knowledge, compassion and dedication help people feel less alone as they navigate life with cancer. They provide expert care, help coordinate personalised treatment and support, while also recognising the challenges that can come with a cancer diagnosis. “My nurse was amazing with rearranging appointments and keeping me up to date. I never got lost in the system. Having one point of…

Wayne - Macmillan
Living with cancer and lymphoedema

We recently published the Life after cancer: dealing with health conditions after cancer blog. Sharing experiences from our forums and guidance for adjusting to a ‘new normal’ after cancer. But what if you are living with cancer alongside health conditions such as lymphoedema? This blog features lived experiences and support information to help you manage your lymphoedema. Living with cancer alongside other health conditions can be difficult when you are already dealing with the emotional effects of cancer. Speaking to your healthcare team for advice and talking to others with similar experiences can help you find coping strategies that work for you. Lymphoedema is a condition that many people live with after cancer treatment. It can develop months or even years after cancer treatment, and…

Megan- Macmillan