Maggie’s online centre – a Vexed community project has been nominated for an award by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. The Excellence in Oncology Awards are designed to “recognise and reward best practice in oncology management, education and patient care across the UK.”

The Online Centre has been a considerable success for the charity, leading to the nomination within the Best Charitable Initiative category. The online centre is designed to replicate the experience visitors to the centres have – a place where they can find friendship and mutual support, in addition to having access to professional support. Research and experience suggest that addressing the social and psychological impacts of cancer can lead to improved control of anxiety, pain, and treatment side-effects.

Community members have found the centres a useful place to discuss a variety of themes and particularly commented on the benefit of being able to re-read group transcripts. They suggested the groups helped them to feel a sense of control and see their situation in perspective.

Moreover, there are benefits in the flexibility to join a group from anywhere. For one participant this was vital as his travel was severely restricted by his illness. He commented “I can grab my computer and suddenly be sitting in a group of people.” Private message boards allowed group members to talk to each other in-between sessions. It helped foster friendships and tackled people’s feelings of isolation and loneliness. One participant commented, “It taught me I wasn’t alone.”

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