Community News - Macmillan Online Community

What do you wish you had known before starting Radiotherapy? The Online Community helps.

Our new blog mini-series is based on a question ‘what you wish you had known’. We’re bringing the Community together to share hints and tips around different cancer treatments or situations you might be facing. Today we’re encouraging the sharing of your experiences of radiotherapy. We know how helpful it can be to hear from someone who has been through it themselves. Whether you are starting radiotherapy treatment yourself, or supporting someone having radiotherapy, we hope this blog will help you find the suggestions you need . Radiotherapy hints and tips for all In the Radiotherapy forum , we asked the Community for their guidance in a recent thread ' What you wish you had known before starting radiotherapy ? ' Some of the advice provided could be relevant to anyone facing any type…

Steph - Online Community Team
Community this or that quiz- Coffee morning

We want to bring our Online Community together to connect and have some light hearted fun during September, as it is the hallmark month for Macmillan’s World’s biggest coffee morning. Find the coffee morning this or that quiz in this blog. Last week, we posted the Bringing the Community Together blog, where details of why Macmillan's world's biggest coffee morning is important and how the Community has supported people affected by cancer over the years. Read the ‘ Bringing the Community together- Virtual coffee morning ’ blog here. Virtual coffee morning This year is the 35th year anniversary of the World’s biggest coffee morning, which continues to make a difference to support everyone affected by cancer. The Online Community’s virtual Coffee morning brings our members together to…

Megan- Online Community Team
Bringing the Community together - virtual coffee morning

September is the hallmark month for Macmillan’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning. This year is the 35th year anniversary of the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning which continues to make a difference to support everyone affected by cancer. 35 years of coming together to raise vital funds so Macmillan can be there to support people when they need us the most. It’s also 35 years of bringing people together to talk about cancer. Whilst coffee mornings are a great way to fundraise, it’s also a good opportunity to raise awareness and share personal cancer experiences. The Online Community brings the cancer community together every day. Our forums provide peer to peer support all day and all night helping you navigate the emotional and practical challenges cancer can bring. "Thank you to everyone…

Megan- Online Community Team
Approaching Autumn - Celebrating the Online Community Seasonal Picture Festivals

Image: a collage of photos from Community Members - 'W ith a peaceful theme' As we approach Autumn, we are launching a new Picture Festival thread whilst taking some time to look back on the Spring and Summer pictures members have contributed in 2025. We asked members of our Express Yourself forum to share pictures of their Spring and Summer. This could include pictures of nature, art and crafts, pets or more. A big thank you to everyone who shared their images this year. We know that it can bring many of you joy to share and see pictures of nature here on the Community. Can you see your image shared in the blog? As the nights draw in and the weather is changing, images from Spring and Summer might help us all feel a little brighter. We are also looking forward to the changing colours…

Steph - Online Community Team
Private Messaging Update

Good morning everyone. We just wanted to let you know that our private messaging function is up and running again. We know how important this area is to our members. Not only as a way of keeping in touch privately with your friends, but also as a method of contacting our team for support. We are so sorry for the inconvenience and would like to thank you for your patience. There is some useful step by step guidance and short tutorial videos in our Help Pages to help you send private messages. As always, our team is available to support you via private messaging the Moderator account or via email community@macmillan.org.uk . Please do not hesitate to get in touch. Best wishes Rebecca, Meg, Matt, Dylan, Steph, David, and Syed Online Community Team.

Moderator - Macmillan Community
Cancer, self-advocacy and pre-existing health conditions on the Online Community

Our forum members share experiences of self-advocacy, pre-existing health conditions and variations in cancer care. Self-advocacy means speaking up, asking questions, and making informed decisions, whatever stage you're at. Managing your own healthcare can be even more difficult if you have other health conditions as well as cancer. And there are unacceptable variations in cancer care across the UK. This means not everyone gets the same experience, depending on who they are and where they live. Learn how Online Community members navigate these issues. “I have inflammatory breast cancer and was told the only options was non skin sparing mastectomy with a year long wait for reconstruction, after being referred to another hospital despite being told by the previous hospital I couldn't have…

Steph - Online Community Team
Meet Mr U - self advocating through cancer treatment with a pre-existing heart condition

Image by Mr U - The famous 'Mr Vicious' who features throughout Mr U's blog Community member Mr U was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer in 2022. He also has a pre-existing heart condition, making treatment more complicated. In his Online Community blog ‘ To hop-on or hop-off is the question? ’ Mr U has shared his story of self-advocacy through treatment and pushing for better outcomes. Self-advocacy means actively speaking up, asking questions, and making informed decisions about treatment. Dealing with different hospital departments and trusts, whilst trying to remain positive isn’t easy. Mr U shares how he has coped, whilst staying strong for his wife 'My Darling' and family. “Where do I even start to explain the everyday pain of self-advocacy?" Today I’ve written around…

Steph - Online Community Team
Ethnic minority cancer awareness on the Online Community

As part of Ethnic minority cancer awareness month, we are sharing the lived experiences of ethnic minority communities posted in our forums and blogs, alongside sharing support resources. Here on the Online Community, all our forums are intended as a safe place for you to talk anonymously about your emotions and experiences with other people who may be going through a similar situation. We realise that sometimes a person’s identity can impact their personal cancer journey. This could be because they have experienced racial health inequalities, breakdown in relationships and family dynamics, religious and cultural challenges, stigmas with their gender, and so much more. There may be stigmas linked to a cancer diagnosis, which can result in isolation and loneliness. We want our Online Community…

Megan- Online Community Team
Spirituality, faith and cancer in the Online Community

A cancer experience can lead to many changes. Some are physical, while others may affect how you see life, yourself, or the world around you. In times of uncertainty, many people turn to faith or spirituality for comfort, strength, and a sense of peace. Spirituality can mean different things to different people. For some, it’s about following a religion or being part of a faith community. For others, it might be a personal sense of meaning, connection to nature, or time for quiet reflection. In this blog, we are shining a light on our Religion, spirituality and prayer forum . This is a space in the Online Community where you can share prayers, reflections, or explore spiritual thoughts and questions with others who understand. A faith community can play a vital role in your support. It…

Dylan - Online Community Team
An update to our Online Community email notifications

Hi everyone, We just wanted to let you know about a change to the way our email notifications work. Previously, if you opted to receive email notifications about new posts or Private Messages, a preview of the content would be included in the email. In order to comply with the UK's new Online Safety Act , our website has now been updated to remove message preview content from all notification emails. Although this does mean you will need to check the Online Community directly in order to read the actual contents of new messages or thread replies, it also means users are protected from receiving copies of potentially upsetting posts which may have been subsequently removed from public view. We hope you can appreciate the reasons behind why had to update the way notification emails work. If…

Moderator - Macmillan Community
We're here for you: Find cancer support services near you

Right support, right place Being told you have cancer can be very difficult. It can take up a lot of your time, energy, and emotional strength. That’s why it’s important that cancer support is easy to find, easy to use, and easy to understand. Macmillan offers a wide range of support services that can be accessed from nearly anywhere. You can talk to Macmillan advisers directly by contacting our Macmillan Support Line . You can connect with other people to share similar experiences and offer support using our free and anonymous Online Community site. But sometimes, you may need support that is in-person and close to where you live. That’s where our local cancer support search tool comes in. Fast, vast, and always up-to-date Our new and improved local cancer support search tool now…

Matthew - Online Community Team
Recognising shared support on the Online Community - Special Contributions, Guest Bloggers and Community Champions

At the heart of our Online Community is the incredible support and connection that members offer each other. Every day, we see individuals going above and beyond, sharing their experiences, offering a helping hand, and making our space a positive and encouraging place to be. To celebrate these acts of kindness and dedication, the Online Community team offer badges to recognise and honour the contributions of our members. In this blog, we’ll introduce you to the different badges we award and explain how they highlight the amazing impact our members have. Whether it’s a thoughtful post, a story shared, or consistent support in our discussion groups, we want to celebrate it all. If you feel inspired to get more involved or know someone whose efforts deserve recognition, we’d love to hear from…

Steph - Online Community Team