New to the community and 'sheilding' with cancer.

Hi  and welcome to the Online Community, although I am sorry to see you finding us but I am sure that you will find the support in the Community very helpful and meet some new friends who are always around.

A cancer diagnosis can indeed bring a lot of confusion, stress and many questions but I found talking with people who were on the same type of journey helped a lot and even more so during the COVID-19 outbreak.

This Community is organised into various support groups so click on the link below and have a look through this list of our Cancer specific Groups.

Posting in these groups will give you the opportunity to talk with people who know exactly what you are dealing with.

Follow the link I've created, join the best group for your cancer type then hit ‘start a discussion’ and you are ready to go.

You could then copy and paste the information from this first post into your new discussion or you can just join in with existing ‘Discussions’ by clicking on 'reply'.

My treatment journey over the years has required me into isolation for 6-12 months after each treatment so the COVID-19 ‘shielding’ is not that much different from years past. The main thing I would say is be carful, do what your team tell you, don’t get paranoid and remember that this is temporary and like many of the pandemics before - it will pass. You can actually see some of our stories by hitting our Community names.

Can I also highlight our various Macmillan Support Line Services on 0808 808 00 00. This service covers Emotional Support, Practical Information. Clinical Information, Financial Support and Work Guidance mostly open 8.00 to 8.00 but check the link but you may find the service very busy at the moment.

Our Online Information and Support Section  is a good place to find information covering cancer diagnosis, treatments and pages covering most types of cancers.

All the very best.

Click to see how to add some details to your profile

Hi  and a very warm welcome to the online community

I'm very sorry to read in your profile that you've recently been diagnosed with cancer of the tonsils. Although not diagnosed with the same type of cancer, I remember only too well how numb I felt when told I had cancer.

As the community is divided up into groups, I'm going to recommend that you join the head and neck cancer group where you can ask questions, share experiences and get support from others who are living with this type of cancer.

To join just click on the link I've created and then choose 'join this group' on the page that opens. You can then introduce yourself and post questions after selecting 'start a discussion' and join in with existing conversations by clicking on 'reply'.

The community can be a little tricky to navigate at first so if you need any help just respond to my reply by clicking on 'reply' at the end of the post.

There's lots of useful information on this site and you may want to have a look at this that Macmillan have produced on coronavirus and shielding.

Thank you very much for already completing your your profile as it really helps others when answering or looking for someone with a similar diagnosis. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. You can amend it at any time by clicking on your username and then selecting 'edit profile'.

x

Hi Latchbrook, thank you so much for your advice and warm welcome. Much needed I must say.

I will have a go to connect as you advised and let you know how I got on.

Copy and paste! Yes I'll try.

It is good to read your experience of isolation and makes me feel less hopeless. If others can do so can I.

It's the start of a new way of living my days. I was pretty positive b4 being told to shield alone.

Giving up freedom is awful. I had been looking after my mental health during lockdown and thought I had it sorted even when diagnosed with cancer.

I thought that as long as I had the allotment to go to I could manage.

But of course that's not how it goes when you have cancer.

Thank you so much for your help.

Seamouse

Hi , do connect with the group that my friend latchbrook highlighted.

Do call the Macmillan Support Line Services on 0808 808 00 00 as you can talk with someone anytime between 8.0 and 8.00 and also ask about the buddy scheme as they may be able to connect you with someone.

You may also want to checkout this link to the Maggie’s Centre website as they are running lots online (Zoom) support groups across the country, yes shielding by yourself may well be challenging but it’s not forever and there are lots of opportunities to connect with people who understand.

((hugs))

Thank you for your kind message Thehighlander.

I will take up your advice.I have been trying to upload and change my profile picture. Uploaded my pic but no success with changing the cloud pic.!

Hi again, yes the profile picture upload can be rather temperamental 

But you can email the site admin team at community@macmillan.org.uk, say what you want to do and attach the photo you want on your profile and do include your Community name and they will do it for you.

((hugs))