Supporting Macmillan's information and support services
How you can support our information and support services
Find out about all the ways Macmillan's support services help people from the moment they are diagnosed with cancer, and how philanthropy helps make that happen.
Macmillan Support Line
The Macmillan Support Line gives free confidential support to people living with cancer and their loved ones. It's a free telephone service available 7 days a week, 8am – 8pm, on 0808 808 00 00.
Talking about cancer can be tough. Our cancer information and support specialists are there to listen. We can talk about whatever matters to the people who call us, and can offer guidance and help them find the right information and support in their area.
People can talk to an expert about:
- Welfare rights and benefits advice
- Financial guidance
- Their cancer treatment with a trained Cancer Nurse Specialist
- Their job and support if they are off or returning to work.
In 2021, nearly 103,000 people were supported through the Macmillan Support Line.
Your support means we can keep this vital service running so that if anyone living with cancer wants to talk, we can listen.
Macmillan Online Community
Macmillan's Online Community is a free online place for people living with or who are affected by cancer to chat about the issues affecting them.
Whether someone is having tests, just been diagnosed, or in treatment — or they're supporting someone who is — the Online Community is the place for people with similar experiences to talk to each other.
People who join the Online Community can:
- Connect with people who are going through treatment, and who can give tips on everyday issues, or getting emotional support.
- Get advice and tips from health professionals, trained volunteers, and Macmillan staff who are also active in the community.
- Chat anonymously — we want the Online Community to be the space for people to talk about what's on their mind. We encourage everyone to keep their identity protected, and to protect the identity of those around them.
- The community is expertly monitored and is a safe and supportive environment for people to access support.
In 2021, the Online Community helped 339,000 unique people affected by cancer to give emotional and practical support to each other.
With your support, we can make sure that the community continues to be a support and grows so we can help more people in the future.
A significant gift from you helps us to be there for more people from the moment they are diagnosed, through treatment onwards.
How your support makes a difference
£7,670
can help our Cancer Information Nurse Specialists to run the Macmillan Support Line for 1 day, meaning people living with cancer get support no matter what their situation.
£12,500
can help over 48,000 people using the Online Community each month get the emotional and practical support they need.
£66,201
can help our Cancer Information and Support team respond to the 3,500+ web and phone enquiries they get from the Macmillan Support Line every 2 weeks.