Community News - Macmillan Online Community

Supporting anyone new to the UK with cancer information and support

When you’re living with cancer, or supporting someone with cancer, it can be all consuming. Cancer can be an awful lot to deal with. The current tragic events unfolding in Ukraine had us thinking about people living with cancer who might also be dealing with other life changing events, or who may be new to living in the UK. Whether you’re coming to the UK as a refugee or for other reasons, Macmillan are here to support you. We’re also here for anyone supporting a refugee living with cancer, or anyone else new to the UK who might benefit from cancer support and information. In this Community New Blog we will highlight all the ways you can find support from across Macmillan and beyond. Online Community We welcome anyone living with cancer or supporting a family member/ friend with cancer…

Steph - Macmillan
All the details you need for the upcoming improvements

After the ‘ Look out for our improvements’ blog we posted last week, we wanted to give you some more information about our upcoming improvements and all the details you need to know about when these new features are going live. Once the improvements go live later this week, the following information in this blog should help show you how to make the most of some of the new exciting functions we are introducing. Don’t worry, we’ll also be updating our Help pages with some step by step guidance should you need a helping hand. When will these new improvements go live on the site? We are hoping that our improvements will be finished and ready for our members to use by 10pm on Thursday 10th of March 2022 . In order for us to bring you these improvements however, there will be some scheduled…

Megan- Macmillan
Look out for our improvements

On Macmillan’s Community, our members are at the heart of everything we do. We’re always looking to improve the site for you and we’re so excited to finally be able to share some improvements that are just around the corner. We know what an important source of support the Online Community is for many. In the next few weeks we will be launching a number of improvements on to the site. These enhancements aim to improve the site for all, as well as add a number of new features many of you asked for. All the images and examples below are shown using the Community on a mobile phone. We know these are the devices most used by our members. The improvements we’ve made are based on your feedback. You spoke up and we heard you, now here’s what we’ve done. Our New Homepage You said that the site was difficult…

Tom C - Macmillan
Looking back at the Online Community during February

Let’s take a look at what happened on the Online Community during February. Today’s blog is a roundup of the discussions, blogs and questions posted last month. If you’re new to the Community or just want to catch up with what’s been happening on the site, this blog has all the information you need. There’s been a lot for everyone to process recently with the coronavirus restrictions being lifted in some parts of the UK and other recent events being reported in the news. This is going to add to any anxious and worried feelings you may already be coping with, so it’s important that you have access to support when you need it. The Community is a safe space for people to talk about how they are coping, and speak to those who understand what they’re going through. Here are some of the conversations…

Megan- Macmillan
Finding support for adenoid cystic carcinoma

This blog is a way of getting to know the Adenoid cystic carcinoma forum . We’re looking at the questions and personal experiences that have been shared on the Online Community. Adenoid cystic carcinoma also known as ACC, is known to be a rarer form of cancer in the salivary gland and can be found in other places of the head and neck too. If you’re looking for information or want to know how you can support other Community members with a rare cancer, stay and read this blog post. There are hundreds of different cancers, some are more common than others. About 1 in 5 people with cancer in the UK have a form of rare cancer and about 1 in 3 of those rare cancers are very rare types. A cancer may be referred to as ‘rare’ because it is a subtype of a more common cancer or because it is in an…

Megan- Macmillan
Finding support with Bile Duct cancer (Cholangiocarcinoma)

In this Community News Blog, we'll be highlighting the support shared in the Community's bile duct cancer (Cholangiocarcinoma) forum and sharing some other ways you can find help. When you or your loved one has been diagnosed with bile duct cancer (Cholangiocarcinoma) , it's important you can find the right emotional support. The Online Community's bile duct cancer forum is an online cancer support group. It's open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and you can find support from people who understand. Because they've been there themselves. You might be looking for tips to help you get the best from your cancer nurse and health care team or ideas around coping with side effects and improving quality of life. You might just need to talk. Whatever support you're looking for, the bile duct cancer…

Steph - Macmillan
Here's to you, our Community members.

Our recent Community news blogs ‘ Being a partner and carer, how cancer affects relationships ’ and ‘ Let’s talk about cancer and sex ’ open up the discussion of how cancer can impact your personal relationships and sex life. There’s another important relationship that we’d like to feature in today’s blog. That relationship is between you, and the other Community members. The Community is here all hours of the day to listen, to care and to help. Everyday there’s so much kindness offered in the discussion threads and it’s warming to see you come together to be a friendly voice at the end of an emotional post. Being a reassuring friend to another member is a really kind thing to do. We’d like to take some time to highlight how much your kindness means to those you support. “There is no…

Megan- Macmillan
Catching up with the ‘Anal cancer’ group

Here on the Online Community, we have lots of different groups where you can find support from someone with a similar diagnosis. If you or your loved one have been diagnosed with a form of anal cancer, the ‘Anal cancer’ group is a safe place to find support. In the Community News blog today, we’re going to feature some recent discussions and highlight how supportive our members are. Our members are here to reassure you that you’re not alone, and it’s ok to talk about what you’re going through. “Ask, Ask Ask away, there's so many people on here that will be able to help and offer support. Also, don't think anything is too much information or too gross to talk about it. It's all been asked before.” Community member, ‘Anal cancer’ group Some members recently welcomed a new member to the…

Eliza - Macmillan
Oesophageal Cancer Awareness and Fear

February is oesophageal cancer awareness month and we're taking some time today to highlight some of our recent content relevant to people affected by an oesophageal cancer diagnosis, treatment or side effects. We also want to talk about fear. We know that many people affected by cancer face fears around cancer treatment options and how the side effects can impact quality of life. We are here as an open and frank space where you can express your fears. They may be fears for your own cancer or that of a family member or loved one. You might be a carer and have fears about the impact of cancer treatment on someone else. Whatever your fears, our online support groups are here for you to let it all out. Discussions about fear Our members often express fear in relation to Oesophageal cancer and…

Tom C - Macmillan
Being a partner and a carer: how cancer can affect relationships

A loved one being diagnosed with cancer can have just as big an emotional and practical impact as a personal diagnosis. This can have a greater impact if you also become a carer. Many members here on the Community team who are supporting a partner might want to do everything they can to help. But that doesn’t mean that you don’t need support too. Here in the Community News blog, we often say every diagnosis and experience can be different. That’s true for relationships too. For some people, a partner having a cancer diagnosis might not impact your relationship at all. For others, a cancer diagnosis can cause additional worries and difficulties in a relationship. You aren’t alone in what you’re going through, no matter how you feel. A cancer diagnosis can affect relationships in many ways…

Eliza - Macmillan
Stoma series: tips from others living with a stoma

In the first part of the Stoma series , there was lots of reassurance offered in the different discussions and information of how to find further support. In this blog, we’re highlighting some of the practical tips that our members have shared to manage their stoma. It’s natural to have questions about stoma care and the Online Community has supportive spaces to get guidance from others who are also living with a stoma. “It’s very early days for you and it’s great you’ve found this group. There’s so many experts in managing a stoma here and I have found great tips. My Stoma nurses were amazing and really got me sorted with the right products and advice.” Community member, Bowel (colon and rectal cancer forum), ‘ rectal cancer’ discussion thread “So pleased I’ve found this group. I had…

Megan- Macmillan
January 2022 - Finding peer support from the Online Community

Now we've nearly reached the end of January 2022, we're looking back on the last few weeks and sharing some of the amazing emotional support you've been offering each other. So far in January, we've seen 1,568 new members join the Community looking for peer support. Although we're always sorry that circumstances have brought you here, we wish you all a warm welcome to the site. If you're new to the Community, it's a collection of online support groups, divided into separate forums. You can find forums dedicated to your specific cancer diagnosis or cancer treatment. We also have forums for anyone supporting loved ones or family members with cancer. If you're looking for more general chat and support, you can also find forums where you can talk about your pets, spirituality or even share…

Steph - Macmillan