Blogging can be a great way to journal your experiences and share with others. Why not create your own cancer journey blog, or have a read of other blogs created by our members?
Unsure how to get started? Take a look at our help pages on blogs.
Last week I had a 12 month(ish) follow-up with the Radiotherapy Oncologist. I last saw her in Jan 2018, 2 months after my last radiotherapy session (chemo had finished a couple of days earlier). In the interim of course I had an MRI and an ultrasound.
The appointment confirmed that all is well; the mouth has healed very well (both from surgery and the radiation); saliva production may improve further over next 12 months, but she also said it is not unheard of for there to be improvements even after...
Well I am now through the surgery! What a relief the cancer has gone! Emotionally the lead up to the day was very stressful, I felt so scared but was reassured by the surgeon and the anaesthetist that I would be well looked after.
I followed the Enhanced Recovery Programme and took the four Carbohydrate drinks on the evening and the final two on the morning at 6 a.m. I went in to hospital early in the morning and the operation lasted four hours. It went well and 80% of my stomach was removed. The...
Lindsay, known to much of our Community as Leolady56, has been an avid member and Community Champion for a couple of years now. Just a couple of months ago I discovered that outside of the Community Lindsay’s involved in a fair few rather interesting hobbies – something you’ll shortly read about further. In addition, she’s also the founder of the ever popular Walking back to Happiness thread, where members share their walks, or any outside excursions they might’ve recently...
Last month Gina, one of our Online Community Champions, shared with the Community part of her cancer journey, specifically interactions with family, friends and colleagues. The blog was called “Most of us just want normality!”, and if you haven’t already read it, it makes for a really thought provoking read.
Gina’s back this week to tell us how she discovered the Online Community when she most needed it, and how it’s helped her to date. Enjoy!
I got my diagnosis on...
"…it gave me better pain relief than any drug could ever do.”
Facing cancer arguably takes a lot of energy, and naturally it becomes a central focus of someone’s life. But this doesn’t mean hobbies or pastimes, including arts and crafts, need to fall to the wayside. Such hobbies often provide a vital escape to where cancer is no longer the central focus, but rather your enjoyment and perhaps solace in whatever hobby or pastime works for you.
You might already be aware...
Colleen got in touch with the Community team a couple of months ago to share with us her experiences following her appendix cancer diagnosis. Colleen’s story offers not a great insight into what is a rare cancer, but also the emotional impact diagnosis had on her and how she reacted.
If you’ve been affected by appendix cancer, why not share your experiences in the comments below.
So, on being woken on a Friday night in March ’17 with what I can only describe as a pain that I hadn’t experienced...
Having recently lost her grandmother, Marie got in touch with myself and the team to share some tips and advice that helped her cope with the loss. Off the back of this, she agreed to put a blog together in the hope that it might be a source of support to users of the site who've perhaps lost a loved one to cancer.
Losing someone you love inevitably means reframing your life in some respects. When you’re grieving and in the process of learning new ways of thinking and acting, your world can feel...
This week one of the latest additions to our Community Champions team, Gina (Ginajsy), has kindly put some words together for the Community detailing her experience and interactions with family, friends and work colleagues following her cancer diagnosis. It makes for an interesting and really thought provoking read.
When you are diagnosed with cancer, along with all of the angst, confusion and shock one of the biggest questions us cancer patients have to contend with is, are we really open about our...
Today marks International Volunteer Day, and to recognise this Julia, who’s volunteered for Macmillan since 2011, has shared with us a little about her story, and the affect volunteering's had on her life following her cancer diagnosis.
A year in the life of…
I can’t believe another year has passed so quickly! Volunteering for Macmillan has been in sharp focus this year and yet again, it has been wonderful, scary at times and so very worthwhile.
I started volunteering for Macmillan...
November was a rather busy month for awareness days, weeks and months, and whilst it’s a couple of days late, the following blog recognizes Mouth Cancer Action Month. Here’s one of our Ask An Expert dentists, Judith and Lynsey, to share with you some information and tips on coping with mouth cancer.
Mouth problems are a common side effect of head and neck cancer and its treatment. Getting support from a dental professional early in the process can really help to minimise discomfort and...
