The impact of your donations to Macmillan
Find out how your support means we can continue to do whatever it takes for people living with cancer.
Cancer is not going anywhere. And neither are we. Macmillan is needed now more than ever.
There are almost 3.5 million people living with cancer in the UK today, and more than 360,000 are diagnosed every year. Thanks to our fundraisers, donors, volunteers and supporters, we're able to provide essential services, care and guidance to people affected by cancer.
We won’t rest or settle for anything other than the best possible support for people living with cancer.
In 2025, almost half a million people living with cancer (476,000) used one or more of our information and support services, including our Support Line, information centres, Online Community, website, email support and Buddies service.
Millions of people living with cancer are counting on us for help with managing bills, going through treatment, or with how they're feeling. Thanks to you, we can continue to be there for them. Thank you for making this possible.
You help people like Cathy get vital support at a Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centres
Cathy was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2022.
“I didn’t realise there was so much support there. It’s such a safe space, you can talk to people who have gone through similar things. There will be something you’re worrying about and wondering, is this normal, and someone else will have experienced the same thing. It really helped to talk to other people. Everything changed when I started going into the Macmillan centre.
"I was just lost. I think if I hadn't met Lesley who works at the Support Centre I would have gone further down and I don’t know how I would have got out of that. You have so many people around you when you’re going through treatment, then they drift away and you feel like you’re left on your own.”
More than 38,000 people received expert information and emotional support from our Cancer Information and Support team.
You help people like Joe get emotional support
Joe was diagnosed with cancer in 2020. When Joe was struggling with the emotional impact of his diagnosis during the first Covid lockdown, his sister nudged him in Macmillan’s direction. He was paired with a Macmillan buddy, Arthur, who gave him the opportunity to open up about his feelings – an experience that Joe describes as transformative.
“Macmillan is a real lifeline to me. It dramatically changed how I felt when I was going through a difficult time and when I was very isolated. The support was transformative for my mental health”.
We currently have more than 500 Macmillan Buddies, who are trained to listen and provide emotional support to help people navigate day-to-day life following a cancer diagnosis, at what can often be the most challenging time of their life. In 2025, our Buddies supported around 3,800 people with cancer across the whole of the UK, providing more than 17,000 sessions of emotional support.
You help ensure our Macmillan nurses are there to help people like Louise
Louise was diagnosed with melanoma in 2016, basal cell carcinoma in 2018 and then later diagnosed with lung cancer in 2019. During her first diagnosis, she met Claire, a Macmillan Nurse. “Claire was just brilliant. She was happy to receive a call whenever, or I’ll email her. I’ll even just email her photos and say, ‘I’m not sure about this.’ You are never made to feel like you’re bothering her.”
Before her second operation, Louise visited the Horizon Centre, where she met Nikki, a Macmillan Thoracic Nurse. “She was amazing and had answers about my aftercare. Macmillan fill those massive gaps when you’re given the bombshell news. They make you feel you can ask away and if they don’t have the answers, they will find out for you.”
After her lung cancer diagnosis, Louise again accessed the Macmillan Horizon Centre, a support centre in Sussex. “We walked in, and the lady we spoke with was amazing and so kind. I had counselling and attended the Hope Course. I know they’re there if I need them.”
Our Macmillan nurses and other Macmillan professionals are an integral part of who we are and what we do. By the end of 2025, there were just over 11,100 Macmillan professionals.