Macmillan Cancer Support

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK, with around 49,200 people receiving a diagnosis each year. To help people understand more about lung cancer, we developed a series to help deliver crucial cancer information to those who need it. In the first episode, we worked alongside Dr Ranj and Dr David Gilligan to address some of the most asked questions, the science behind it, and explore the treatment and care you can expect after a lung cancer diagnosis. Click here to watch the full episode: https://lnkd.in/eiQgQNN9

Suki Thompson sadly died two years ago after first being diagnosed with cancer in 2010. Suki was a Macmillan trustee for almost a decade and was a wonderful source of inspiration and guidance for many of our colleagues and an energetic, compassionate and valued member of the Macmillan board. In her final years, Suki also hosted 'Reset', an inspiring podcast featuring conversations with remarkable people. Now, those powerful conversations live on in a very special book created by her family called Every Day is a Gift. This was a theme that Suki adopted as she neared the end of her life, reminding us all in her last few precious months, that life is there for living. The book celebrates this outlook on life and brings together some of the most moving and thought-provoking moments from Suki’s podcast series. It is filled with inspiration and advice to help others lead a more fulfilling life. She believed deeply in the power of learning from others, and this book invites you to do just that. Every page is a reminder that life, in all its complexity and beauty, is indeed a gift. The book is available to order from our online shop, and all proceeds will help us do whatever it takes to support people living with cancer: https://lnkd.in/eu7vQMrP?

Nellie Gbadebo was diagnosed with breast cancer at 26, just three months after giving birth. She faced a distinct lack of representation before beginning her radiotherapy treatment, and has also been affected by cancer-related misinformation throughout her journey. “Some of the misconceptions that impacted me include the belief that young people don’t get cancer, that you don’t need to worry if there’s no family history, and that cancer is always a death sentence.” “I also grew up around the idea that you only need to see a doctor if you’re in pain, and that natural remedies or prayer alone can cure cancer. One particularly damaging belief was that speaking about cancer or getting checked could somehow ‘bring it to life.’ As a Black woman, I’ve suffered because of these damaging beliefs. “That fear and silence delayed me seeking help, and when I finally did, I didn’t receive the care or support I needed. I was supposed to be referred for further checks, but the midwife brushed it off and told me, ‘It's just a dried-up milk duct from stored-up breast milk.’ Because of that, because I chose to trust a professional, the cancer went undetected and spread. “There is research showing that Black women, are more likely to be diagnosed at later stages than white women and I believe this is one of the reasons why. These harmful myths, combined with systemic inequalities in healthcare, put people like me at risk.” Our campaign - Whoever You Are, Whatever It Takes - is shining a light on what it means to be living with a cancer diagnosis in the UK today and encouraging more people to access accurate information and support. You can watch our full video on Nellie’s story here: https://lnkd.in/e-ZXUNPY

We're celebrating 10 years of Mighty Hikes! Since launching back in 2015, the fundraising challenge has seen over 155,000 people lace up their boots in some of the most scenic places across the UK to help raise vital funds to support people living with cancer. A decade on, it has helped to raise over £80 million and has grown from five to 12 locations. We haven't done this alone. It's been a huge group effort with incredible people and teams both inside and outside of Macmillan, and our brilliant event partner Threshold Sports. Thanks to everyone who has taken part over these past 10 years. 💚🥾

With the summer holidays soon upon us, we understand that arranging childcare can be challenging and time-consuming. If you're also navigating a cancer diagnosis, this time of year may feel especially overwhelming. If you’re an employer and an employee, please be mindful of how cancer can affect a person’s entire life, including juggling childcare. There is support out there. It may be to simply lean on family and friends, or there are options to contact your local council and enquire about childcare services and family hubs in your area. We’ve compiled some information about childcare which may be helpful if you're wondering how you are going to approach the summer holidays. Take a look at our website: https://lnkd.in/g2UiVPpx

“It kind of blows my mind… the fact that you’ve got people in the helping profession that will put themselves out so much for the people they’re working with and their patients, and yet they treat themselves so poorly.” In this episode of The Cancer Professionals podcast we are joined by Claire Goodwin-Fee MBACP 🐝, a psychotherapist and founder of Frontline19, a non-profit organisation that supports keyworkers with their mental health. Claire provides valuable insights into how to recognise when your mental health may be shifting, the lasting impact of the pandemic on the workforce, and practical ways to support your own wellbeing in a challenging and emotionally demanding field. Content warning: This episode contains conversations about mental health and suicide, which you may find upsetting or triggering. To listen to this episode, search ‘The Cancer Professionals’ on your preferred streaming platform, or head to our comments for the direct link.

We are thrilled to share that Super Surgeons: A chance at Life won Best Content Partnership or Advertiser Funded Programme at the Broadcast Digital Awards 2025! The documentary series shows cancer patients at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust undergo life-changing surgeries, and features real calls into our Macmillan Support Line, showing how cancer can impact a person’s life in many ways, and the varied support we can offer at every stage of their cancer experience. One judge said: “The sponsorship was subtly built in and the phone call moments showcasing Macmillan's role supporting patients were moments of brilliance and left the audience with a much wider understanding of Macmillan and their role.” This is an incredible recognition of the hard work and dedication that went into making the series. We want to say thank you to everyone involved. Read more about the award here: https://lnkd.in/dcmxSK7p

We’ve been working in partnership with Card Factory for eighteen years, and in that time they’ve raised almost £9 million, which goes towards helping provide vital support to people living with cancer all over the UK. These funds are raised through an annual national raffle, hosting Coffee Mornings and their customers generously donating change at till points. They also give donations from the sales of Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Christmas cards each year. They’re currently working with people with a lived experience of cancer to design a new range of cards specifically for people who have been affected by cancer. Cardfactory employees also take part in their own fundraising and this year, Jane, alongside some of her cardfactory colleagues, is taking part in an incredible four Mighty Hikes. Jane (pictured here with some of her colleagues) will be taking part in the Norfolk Coast, Giant's Causeway, Gower Peninsula and Northumberland hikes to help raise £15,000. “My father had bowel cancer, and although treatment was successful for him, my mother-in-law was diagnosed with lung and brain cancer, and it was unfortunately too late for treatment to be effective, so we sadly lost her. My husband, sister and two brother-in-law’s have all been diagnosed with cancer, but are all in a good place at the moment. “I wanted a personal challenge where I could raise money for a good cause. All my colleagues taking part have been amazing and will continue to do everything they can to support Macmillan through this partnership.” We can continue to support to millions of people living with cancer thanks to the people and organisations that support us, like the cardfactory customers and colleagues.

Access to cancer care and information across the UK isn’t equal, and there are gaps in the care and support available. Making sure cancer care and services reach and support more LGBTQIA+ people can be a lifeline to those in need. Tracey, a Macmillan Information and Support Manager at Whittington Health, recently led a Pride In Health event with her team in London for healthcare professionals and patients. “The aim of the event was to enable LGBTQIA+ people affected by cancer, their families and healthcare professionals to come together to discuss the experiences of patients, explore service gaps that impact cancer care for LGBTQIA+ people, and provide useful information and support. “We heard people’s personal stories and experiences, from both patients and clinicians. We had a range of professional speakers providing information and wellbeing advice. People were very open in sharing personal information and stories, which was respected. “By listening directly to these voices, we aimed to better understand where services are falling short and identify what compassionate, affirming care should look like. Our goal was not only to hold a meaningful and supportive event, but also to use the insights shared to develop practical resources, including staff training tools that will help healthcare professionals improve communication, challenge assumptions, and deliver more inclusive care to LGBTQIA+ patients. “Before embarking on this project, I had some idea of the barriers people from the community faced. However, working closely with our patients from the LGBTQIA+ community and hearing their experiences, I’ve gained a much better understanding. Hearing about the fears, experiences of being treated differently or feeling not seen, as well as the micro-aggressions and the impact that has on people, left me feeling very sad and more determined for our project to hopefully make a difference. We really can’t thank all the people from the community enough, who helped us to gain insight and to shape our work.” Sexual orientation and gender identity should not affect your access to the right healthcare. But we know that sometimes LGBTQIA+ people may face extra challenges in getting the right help. It’s events like these that help services improve communication, challenge assumptions, and deliver more inclusive care to LGBTQIA+ patients. Visit our Healthcare Professionals learning hub, where we have information, resources and tools to help you with your work: https://lnkd.in/ejS6DYUD

Amie is a Cancer Champion support officer at The Rainbow Project - Northern Ireland, a charity that provides help and support to LGBTQIA+ individuals and their loved ones affected by cancer. After a personal experience with the Rainbow Project, Amie joined their team and now has the opportunity to connect with individuals affected by cancer, offering guidance and directing them to the support services they need. “A person’s life can change very quickly after a diagnosis and it's one of my responsibilities to make sure they feel linked into the services that are going to be beneficial for their needs. Whether it be financial support, transport to appointments, check in sessions or ‘listening ear sessions’ where individuals can talk through their thoughts and feelings in a non-judgemental and relaxing atmosphere. Additionally, I can refer them to other Rainbow Project services too. “I also work with cancer support, screening and health services to help them to understand the barriers faced by LGBTQIA+ people accessing services and to support them in becoming more inclusive. “I was introduced to the Rainbow Project like many people are, through their services. During the pandemic, my partner was able to access some of the services they offer. I saw first-hand how beneficial the services can be for individuals, and I began to think about just how important visibility is for our community and how I would have really benefitted from a service like this when I was questioning my own gender identity and sexual orientation. “Last year, I moved to the Cancer Champion’s service, which is a partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support. We have loved working with Macmillan as they are so supportive of our work and really passionate about cancer care. My role is to link individuals to Macmillan services and support, such as the Cancer Nurse Specialist support team, financial support and guidance, or health and wellbeing advice. “One thing that the Rainbow Project pride ourselves in is our person-centred, holistic and co-cultural approach. Through my own life experiences, I have been able to connect with so many people and it has truly been a life-changing and enriching experience for me.” Working with organisations like the Rainbow Project is vital to ensure that people living with cancer get the relevant information and support they need. We have information for LGBTQIA+ people about services they can access on our website: https://lnkd.in/eaGa7xmF