Community News - Macmillan Online Community

"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
"...I was winded by the realisation that I could've died. Equally, I realised that now I had to live." - David's story

Last month, Community News shared My cancer, my sexuality, me. – a piece written by a gent named David, which spoke about his diagnosis and its relation to his sexuality. David’s story made for an extremely honest and heartfelt read, so I thought I’d ask him to contribute another piece this month. Fortunately, David recently underwent chemotherapy treatment which proved to be successful. His below piece covers difficulties and mixed feelings David felt following this news. I should mention David originally shared this piece with the Centre for Mental Health ; a fantastic charity that works to promote mental health and wellbeing, and to change inequality and disadvantage throughout the life course. The walk from the waiting room to his office seemed interminable. The lights were harsh…

Former Member
Dining with an Ostomate - "...a quick and easy way to get food inside me, even when I might not have much appetite."

Earlier this month , Debbie, our resident ‘Ostomate chef’, shared with us a little about her struggles and how she’s coped with eating following an ileostomy earlier this year, and an extremely nutritious ‘Super Green Soup’ recipe. This week she’s back to talk about how she reintroduced fruit into her diet , and shares with us two rather tasty smoothie recipes. Enjoy… Reintroducing fruit: Eating fresh fruit has always been part of my diet, so it was something that I was very keen to reintroduce once I had the ileostomy. I was able to eat bananas from pretty much the third day, and have found them very helpful when needing to thicken my stoma output, and as a mid-morning snack in the early days when I was unable to eat much at meal times. As I knew that I could eat them with no ill effects…

Former Member
"...if you were to see me naked, I look the same as before." - Testicular Cancer Awareness Month

It’s April, and with it Testicular Cancer Awareness Month . To recognise this, I thought I’d share with the Community a few positive stories, anecdotes and ‘words of wisdom’ from our Testicular cancer group. Enjoy, and if you’ve been affected by testicular cancer and wish to share something, go ahead and do so using the comments section below. “Good luck. Try to deal with one day at a time. This is a very curable cancer. The most important thing is that you must accept help from whoever offers it. Taking care of you in all this is essential as you will be taking care of everyone else.” 'Treat it like eating an elephant. Eat it in tiny pieces rather than the whole thing at once." “On a less spiritual note, a good friend said treat it like eating an elephant. Eat it in tiny pieces rather…

Former Member
Get to know the Expert: Hannah (Ask a Physio)

One of my favourite aspects of the Community is the fact our members can put any questions they have about cancer to one of our various experts through the Ask an Expert section of our site. Whatever your situation, wherever your location - you can simply log onto the Community and access support from a professional. Want to know more about Experts who volunteer to answer your questions? Well starting from today we’ll be introducing a monthly ‘Get to know the Expert’ Q&A, where our Experts will tell you a little more about themselves, what they do, and how they can support you through your experience with cancer. This month we’ve Hannah , one of our Ask an Expert Physio’s, to start things off… How long have you been an Expert on the Community, and what made you want to volunteer for…

Former Member
Dining with an Ostomate - "What I didn't find was any decent recipes for tasty meals..."

Debbie, known to the Community as Jersey Lily , is an Ostomate. She’s also a real ‘foodie’, so off the back of a temporary ileostomy earlier this year, she found it difficult to find tasty and suitable recipes anywhere. Debbie though powered through, adapting a few of her favorite recipes, and discovering new ones suitable for an Ostmate. This week Debbie’s shared with us a recipe for a fresh and health ‘Super Green Soup’, packed full of green goodness – but first, here’s Debbie to tell us a little more about her story… Before I was diagnosed, I was living a healthy lifestyle – eating all the right things, exercising regularly, getting plenty of sleep. I am not an anxious person, have little stress in my life (being able to retire early from teaching has been a real bonus), believe in positivity…

Former Member
"There is nothing better than a cuddle with our cat to cheer Brian up..."

"Animals are such agreeable friends. They ask no questions. They pass no criticisms." - George Elliot Over the past several years the benefits of pets to mental wellbeing has grown clearer and clearer. The companionship pets offer is a great way to reduce anxiety and stress, and dogs especially encourage owners to exercise, and possibly socialise with other dog walkers. Over the past several weeks I’ve been talking to Community members and our own staff about the impact pets have on their lives – here’s what they had to say… Cruton and her ‘quirky dog’, Shady: “There are days, which thankfully are few and far between, that I have a down day. My mum used to say these days are allowed, but you must not set up camp and stay there. “I am fortunate to have my daughters, very good friends…

Former Member
Mother's Day - "The thought of them got me off the floor...talking, smiling and laughing again."

This Sunday’s Mother’s Day , a day to celebrate mothers mean to us; all they do for us, and all they mean to us. To recognise this year’s Mother’s Day , I’ve been talking to several mothers on the Community about how having cancer has affected them as a mother. I’m not going to take any further time introducing or the piece – so without further ado, here are our mothers of the Community… 'The thought of them got me off the floor, got me talking, smiling and laughing again.' Cara19 My first thoughts being diagnosed with bowel cancer were of my babies. I just couldn’t bear the thought that I might not be there for them. But after the inevitable tears, the thought of them got me off the floor, got me talking, smiling and laughing again. I’m one of the lucky ones and so blessed to have…

Former Member
My cancer, my sexuality, me.

Just a couple of weeks back I was fortunate enough to have the LGBT foundation get in touch asking if we’d be interested in hearing from a friend of theirs, David, who was diagnosed with cancer last September. David wished to share with us his story about being a gay man and facing cancer – fortunately, David's recent chemotherapy treatment has been successful! David’s story makes for an extremely heartfelt and eye-opening read, from a perspective perhaps shared too little on the Community. Here it is… My nephew – he’s 12 – and I, are in Brighton Museum and Art Gallery. We find ourselves in front of a large TV screen. There’s a film about the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality which took place in 1967. He’s curious and open minded (a credit to his parents, I say), and he watches…

Former Member
"...your reply filled me with strength and a feeling of support. I'll be back!"

In today’s Community News piece, I thought I’d share with you all just a handful of the feedback recently received for our Community cancer forum – feedback myself, Ellen and Jess see day in, day out on the site. The Community’s such an invaluable source of support for people affected by cancer, and the below speaks volumes for you, our Community members, who are the ones sharing your experiences; talking to those who need a listening ear; and offering support and comfort to those who need it most. Enjoy the read, and if you’ve a positive story from the Community you’d like to share, go ahead and do so using the comments section below. “…I'm always so heartened to see the amazing support this little community gives.” “There's lots of support on this group. It is amazing. Sending love…

Former Member
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, so to recognise this I’ve been speaking with three members of our Ovarian cancer group, and asked them to share with the Community a little about their experiences, and any tips they might have on coping. If you’ve had any thoughts or an experience with ovarian cancer you’d like to share, go ahead and do so in the comments section below. 'My main difficulty was telling people I loved...I felt guilty...' Posie: “My diagnosis came at the beginning of November 2018, and it was a shock. I attributed many of the symptoms I was suffering to the ageing process and long walks with our new puppy. Once diagnosed things moved very quickly as I was on the two-week plan, no appointment should take longer than two weeks from request to seeing a health care…

Former Member

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