Shatter The Taboo

The topic of cancer can be difficult to address. For many, a diagnosis of cancer can evoke a variety of emotions, such as fear, anger and sadness. Macmillan Cancer Support aim to shatter the stigma of cancer by encouraging patients, partners, family and friends to talk openly and honestly about cancer.

Challenging the taboo, Cancer Talk Week is a campaign run by Macmillan Cancer Support which aims to encourage anyone affected by cancer to share their stories this week. Dealing with the effects of cancer in isolation can result in an overwhelming feeling of loneliness. Therefore, due to the negative nature of cancer, public discussion is limited resulting in the spread of misinformation. By breaking the impression, challenging the embarrassment and turning around negative attitudes we can alter the public perception of cancer. 

Ways To Talk Openly About Cancer

If you are affected by cancer ask for advice. Below are three methods that you can utilise to find the right support for you:

1. Join Communities Online

As a member of a health related online community, you can access a wealth of information from the comfort of your own front room. Online communities enable you to talk openly with others who are empathic and have complete understanding of your health situation. In addition, discussing your worries, concerns and personal experiences with those in a similar situation can make you feel part of something, instead of an outsider. If you struggle to talk to those around you face-to-face, discussing about your cancer or the cancer of a person who matters to you online can help you cope better with the uncertainties caused by cancer.

2. Support Groups

Macmillan Cancer Support operate more than 900 independent cancer support groups throughout the United Kingdom. Support groups provide a warm and welcoming environment for those living with the effects of cancer to discuss their feelings in the open. Expressing emotions to a support network can feel liberating, reducing feelings of stress and anxiety. Providing a supportive environment to share factually correct information, you can find out about cancer treatment options and their side effects along with the emotional challenges. 

Macmillan Cancer Support groups also encourage you to talk freely about any subject. Visiting a support group does not mean that you have to spend your time focused on discussing cancer. Often, people find it helpful and refreshing to talk about everyday life, trivial topics and humorous anecdotes. Simply chatting about daily events can help others feel that normal life, outside of cancer,  is still going on. 

3. Macmillan Connected

When coping with cancer it can be difficult to know who to talk to. Not wanting to burden family members, partners and friends with your worries and concerns can leave you feeling alone with your thoughts. However, providing a new and innovative service, Macmillan Cancer Support have come together with Skype to offer a supporting service. 

Macmillan and Skype will connect you with a chosen ‘buddy’. A buddy is somebody who can relate to you, whether they have survived cancer themselves or cared for someone close to them throughout their illness. Macmillan buddies are trained volunteers who are able to provide companionship, expert advice and support, or simply chat if you need somebody to talk to. Macmillan Connected is a free service that you can use from any device at any time. 

Find out more about Cancer Talk Week > Here

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