Hello,
I am based in ROI, going through chemo/immunnotherapy for breast cancer, and live alone with zero support outside hospital attendance. I am 70 years old and neurodivergent, and the biggest issue is having to lose my dogs for a year, which is my main emotional support gone. My business is also pretty well gone as well, so I am struggling financially (inadequate pension and now hefty prescription costs) and four months into treatment I am still struggling to find available supports, financially and practically. I have no family over here, just one relative in the UK who is fighting cancer as well so unable to travel.
This looks like a useful resource. All published information handed out here comes from MacMillan anyway, so I already have some information but in-person facilities for advice are only in a few cities here, too far away for me to travel to.
Thanks for reading!
Hello Dogdays ,
My name is David and I’m part of the team here at Macmillan’s Online Community. I’d like to wish you a warm welcome to our Community, and hope that you find the support and connections you’re looking for to help you find your best way through your cancer journey.
I’m so sorry to hear about your breast cancer diagnosis. It sounds like you have quite a bit to deal with whilst living alone, and I’m sorry to hear how much your cancer diagnosis and treatment has impacted you so much. I’m also so sorry to hear about the loss of your dogs – our pets are such an important part of our families, and even more so when you’re navigating something as challenging as a cancer diagnosis. It’s positive that you’re here reaching out for support, and please know the community will do all we can to support you through your cancer journey.
You might like to reach out to our community in our breast cancer forum to talk to others who may have experienced similar and can support you. Additionally, you could reach out in a couple of our cancer chat forums – Our living alone with cancer post is a place where you can talk to others who have experienced challenges whilst living alone with cancer, and also share how they’ve coped as well as providing advice and encouragement to others. You’ve also mentioned you’re neurodivergent, so it’s important you know there’s a place for you to talk about the unique barriers you face as a result – our neurodivergence and cancer post. It’s a place where you can talk about those unique challenges with others who really understand what you’re going through. Please know whatever you’re facing on your cancer journey, there’s a place here on the online community for you to talk about it with others who have similar lived experience.
I really hope these links help, but if there’s anything we can do to help, please do reply to this post and the team here or our incredible community will do all we can to help.
Take care,
David
Macmillan Online Community Team
