Registration
and security
Do I need to register?
You can read the forum without registering, but you will need to
register to write messages.
How do I register?
Click on the pink 'register' button at the top
of the Cancer Chat homepage
and complete the short registration form.
Once I've registered, what information
will other users be able to see about me?
Other users on the forum will only be able to see your username.
Your other details (email address, etc.) will remain private and
are covered by our privacy
policy.
I have registered and still haven't received
my confirmation email. What should I do?
After you register, you should receive a confirmation email with
instructions on how to start using the forum. If you haven't received
this email, try
- Checking the 'junk' folder in your email program - the confirmation
email may have got filtered as unwated mail
- Register again with a different username, making sure you enter
your email address correctly (you may have mistyped it the first
time)
If neither of these methods work, please let us know using the
‘contact us’ link on every page of the forum.
How do I log in?
Once you have registered, you can login using the pink ‘login’
button at the top of the page. You will need to enter the username
and password that you chose when registering.
« Top
of page
Using Cancer Chat
General instructions
1. Browse Cancer Chat and have a look at the discussions other
users are having in the eight different sub-community areas. To do
this:
- On the Cancer Chat
homepage, click on one of the sub-communities on the left hand
side of the page (such as ‘risk and prevention’)
- This opens the topic page. You should see a list of the discussions
for this topic at the bottom of the page
- Click on the subject of a discussion to read posts within that
discussion
- To go back to the sub-community, or to the Cancer
Chat homepage, use the ‘breadcrumb trail’
(the links at the top of the screen, which start with the words
'you are here'). For example, if you would like
to return to the Cancer
Chat homepage, click on ‘Cancer Chat’ in the breadcrumb trail
2. If you see a discussion that interests you, why not post
a response? You will need to register and log in
to do this.
- Click the ‘reply’ button on the post you'd
like to respond to, and write your message in the text box, bearing
in mind our Terms and Conditions
- Once you are ready to send the message, click the blue 'post'
button beneath the text box
- Your post will now be added to the end of the discussion
3. If you would like to talk about something that is not already
the subject of a discussion on Cancer Chat, you can start a new discussion.
You will need to register and log in to do this.
- Click the ‘new content’ button on the blue
log-in bar at the top of the screen, and choose ‘discussion’
- To choose the topic in which you would like to create your new
discussion, click ‘change’ to the right of the
topic area you are currently in. Then select the appropriate topic
area from the drop-down menu
- Click ‘create new discussion’
- Write your message in the text box, making sure to give it an
appropriate subject title, then click the
‘post message’ button
- Your message (known as the main thread) will appear as a new
discussion within your chosen topic. Now all you need to do is
wait for other Cancer Chat
users to contribute to the discussion
I’m not familiar with forums. Can you explain
what the jargon words mean?
- Forum – This word describes Cancer
Chat as a whole. An online forum is a place where you can
create and take part in discussions with other users
- Topic/sub-community – On Cancer
Chat, these are also known as 'sub-communities'.
There are 8 on this forum. Each sub-community aims to cover a
different stage of the cancer journey. Please post your messages
in the relevant topic. If you don’t think there is a suitable
area for your discussion, post it in ‘other’
- Discussion – A discussion always consists of
a main thread and a number of posts. The posts within a discussion
will share a common theme as they are responses to the main thread,
or to posts within the main thread
- Thread – This is the main post in a discussion,
i.e. the post that starts the discussion. It will always appear
at the top of the page in a blue box
- Post – Each message within a discussion is
a post.
- Breadcrumb trail – This appears at the top
left of the screen, directly underneath the blue log-in bar. It
is a navigational tool that shows where you are within Cancer
Chat. Clicking on different parts of it will take you back
to that area e.g. if you click on Cancer Chat within the Breadcrumb
Trail you will return to the Cancer
Chat homepage.
- Avatar - An avatar is a photo that is attached to your Cancer Chat profile.
People will see your chosen avatar whenever you post or they look at your profile.
What do the ‘New Content’, ‘Your Area’, ‘History’ and ‘Browse’ buttons
do?
These buttons are located on the blue log-in bar towards the top of
the page.
- New content - Where you can write a new message
- Your area - This is different for every user.
This area shows discussions you’ve started, and allows you to
view and edit your profile, password, preferences and email notifications
- History - A list of the discussions you have
viewed
- Browse - A way of viewing all the threads in
Cancer Chat
What do the ‘Overview’, ‘Most recent content’ and ‘Most recent discussions’ tabs do?
These tabs are located in the light blue bar near the top of most pages. They provide another way to navigate around the forum. These tabs appear on the forum’s main pages and topic pages, but not on pages where there are forum posts.
- Overview gives you a taste of everything in the forum
- Most recent content shows which topics have recently been discussed
- Most recent discussions lists the most recent individual posts within the discussions
viewed
What does ‘set as default tab’ mean?
You can choose ‘set as default tab’ so that when you next come to
that particular page, it will immediately display the content in
that tab. If you were to choose ‘overview’ on the Cancer
Chat homepage, the next time you arrived at the Cancer
Chat homepage, you would see the content of the ‘overview’ tab.
To change your default tab, choose one of the other two tabs and
click ‘select as default tab’ again.
“This feature isn't currently part of Cancer Chat” – I keep finding
this message on some pages. What does it mean?
You may see this message if you explore some areas marked ‘blogs’
or ‘documents’. These are features that allow users to compose and
share online diaries and documents within Cancer
Chat.
At the moment we haven’t “turned on” these features on Cancer
Chat, but if you would like us to do so, please let us know.
We are constantly reviewing and improving the forum, and your feedback
is important.
What are ‘RSS feeds’?
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a free subscription service.
This service notifies you whenever there are content changes or
additions to a topic you’re interested in.
If you were to subscribe to the ‘Risk and Prevention’ RSS feed,
the system would send you the information and discussions every
time they were updated.
To view RSS feeds you will need an RSS reader (also known as an
"aggregator"). These are free applications that pick up updates
to the content you’ve subscribed to, and display them for you. You
can use your web browser as an aggregator (recent versions of Internet
Explorer, Firefox, and Safari support this).
There are also reader applications that are specifically designed
to collect and aggregate RSS feeds. To subscribe to the RSS feed
you want, click its link.
How do I see my profile?
To view your profile from any page, log in and then click the ‘your
area’ button at the top of the page. ‘Profile’
is the first option in this menu; click on this and you will be
able to view and edit your profile.
How do I view the discussions I’ve started?
Use the ‘your area’ button at the top of the page.
You can also use this button to view and edit your profile, password,
preferences and email notifications.
Can I send private messages to other users?
No, you are currently unable to send private messages to other users.
How do I upload an avatar or profile photo?
Adding a photo to your profile is quick and simple. You'll just need to follow these steps:
- Login to Cancer Chat
- Click on "your area" (on the blue bar across the top of the page)
- Click on "profile" in the drop down menu
- Click on "change avatar" on the right hand side of the page
Then, to choose one of Cancer Chat's avatars:
- Click on the photo you like
- Click "save"
Or, to upload your own photo:
- Click on "browse"
- Select the image from your files and click "open"
- Click "upload"
- Click on the image you have just uploaded
- Click "save settings"
You can change your profile photo or avatar at any time by following the same steps.
However, to upload another custom avatar you must first delete the other custom avatar you have already uploaded.
Can I upload photos and videos?
You can upload one photo to use as your profile photo or "avatar".
See "How do I upload an avatar or profile photo" to find out how.
You are currently unable to upload videos.
If you upload a photo or post links to a photo sharing website you must have the permission of the person who took the photos and the people in the photos. You must not post links to photos of children.
How can I make the text size bigger?
Go to your internet browser's ‘view’ menu (the
menu bar usually at the top of your computer screen) and click on
'text size’. From here you can choose how big you
want the text on your screen to appear – click on ‘largest’
to increase it to its maximum size.
«
Top of page
Contributing to discussions
What can I write on Cancer Chat?
Cancer Chat is your place
to share information and experiences about cancer. Just pick a topic
area that relates to the post you would like to write. Please keep
in the mind the forum's Terms and Conditions when writing a post.
Can I start a new topic?
Currently the eight topics (e.g. 'risk and prevention')
are fixed, and you cannot add a new one. If you feel your discussion
does not fit into one of the existing topics, we suggest you post
it in 'other'. We are always looking at how we
can improve the forum, so do please use the 'contact us'
button if you think we need to add a new topic.
How do I reply to a message?
Click the 'reply' button within the post you'd
like to respond to. Your response will then be added to the end
of the discussion. You need to be logged in to do this.
Where in a thread should I put my post?
Click the 'reply' button in whichever post you'd
like respond to. Your response will then appear at the bottom of
the discussion. If you click on the blue arrow underneath the title
on your post, it will take you up the discussion, so that the post
you were responding to is positioned at the top of the page.
What should I call my new discussion thread?
It is a good idea to try and name your discussions accurately and
relevantly. This helps everyone on the forum to find the discussions
they are interested in. It also makes it easier for the search tool
to bring up relevant posts. For example, a descriptive subject title
like 'coping with the side effects of Tamoxifen for breast cancer'
would be more useful than a more general title like 'breast cancer'.
How do I start a new discussion or thread?
Once you have logged in, click on the 'new' tab
at the top of the page. The first option in this menu is 'discussion':
click on this and you will be taken to the 'new discussion'
page. Then choose a topic and click 'create new discussion'.
Please make sure you use a relevant title for your discussion as
this will aid other users to find your thread and contribute to
the discussion. Once you have written your thread, please click
the blue 'post' button at the bottom of the screen.
How can I search for a discussion on a
specific topic?
Type your key words (words that describe the content you're looking
for - for example, 'bone', 'chemotherapy' 'recovery')in the search
bar at the top right of the page and click 'go'.
If any discussions contain these key words, the results display
with the key words highlighted. If you think any of these results
are relevant then click on the title and it will take you to the
appropriate discussion.
If you click on 'more options' you can perform
a more advanced search, and 'search tips' gives
you some hints on how best to use the search function.
If your search doesn't bring up any results, try entering less
specific search criteria. If you still can't find any appropriate
posts, it's likely that there aren't any on Cancer
Chat. So why not start one?
« Top of page
Passwords and security
I've forgotten my password, what should
I do?
Click the question mark next to the box where you would enter your
password. Then enter your username, and the system will send an email
to the email address you used when you registered. Finally, follow
the instructions in the email.
If you still have problems logging in please let us know, using the
'contact us' button.
Who sees my profile?
The majority of your profile information can be seen by anyone using
the internet. Only your name and e-mail address will not be visible.
« Top
of page
Email notifications
How do I change my email notifications?
Click on the ‘your area’ button at the top of the
page, followed by ‘preferences’. You need to be logged-in to change
your email notifications.
«
Top of page
Terms and conditions
What are the terms and conditions? Where
can I find them?
Terms and conditions are legal requirements that you must agree to
before posting on Cancer Chat.
There is a link to our terms and conditions
on most pages.
«
Top of page
Moderation
What do the Cancer Chat moderators do?
One of our moderators’ roles is to make sure that people are following
our key terms and conditions, which you agree to follow when you register.
You can help the moderators by contacting them if you think that someone
is mis-using the site, by using the ‘report this post’
button on the post that you think breaks our terms and conditions.
As Cancer Chat is a new
venture for Cancer Research UK, our moderators will be regularly reviewing
the forum. It would be great to hear what you think: you can send
our moderators a message using the ‘contact us’ button.
Our moderators will occasionally post messages on the site and can
be identified by the Cancer Research UK icon next to their name.
Why has my post been removed?
Your post will be removed if the moderators find that it breaks our
terms and conditions. Your post could be temporarily
removed if a number of users report your post as breaking the terms
and conditions. Our moderators will review your post and, if they
agree that it breaks our terms and conditions, your message will be
permanently deleted. However, if your post has not broken the terms
and conditions, your post will re-appear on the site within 48 hours.
How can I contact the
Cancer Chat moderators?
Please use the ‘contact us’’ button.
« Top of page
Finding more information about
cancer
How do I know if something that I read
on Cancer Chat is correct?
You can confirm the accuracy of the information by
- Asking your doctor, nurse or other medical professional
- Checking Cancer Research UK’s patient information
website, CancerHelp UK
CancerHelp UK provides
over 6,000 pages of cancer information and is written by specialist
cancer nurses. You can also call our cancer information nurses who
offer a confidential telephone and email helpline service for anyone
affected by cancer in the UK (Freephone 0808 800 4040).
If you feel that someone has posted seriously misleading information,
please do check our terms and conditions and contact a moderator.
How can I find more information from Cancer
Research UK - and what are the 'useful links'?
You may have questions about cancer that other Cancer
Chat users can’t help you with. Cancer Research UK has a variety
of information resources that should help answer your questions.
You can find links to these in the 'useful link
' box on the right hand side of most Cancer
Chat pages:
- CancerHelp UK is
Cancer Research UK's free online information service about cancer
and cancer care. It covers 95% of all cancers, and has a database
of current UK cancer trials. All the information is written by
specialist cancer nurses in plain English, so it is clear and
easy to understand, and it is checked by cancer doctors and nurses
to make sure that all the details are current and correct
- Our Cancer Information Nurses offer a free and confidential
helpline service for anyone affected by cancer in the UK. You
can contact them on 0808 800 4040 or by email.
- The main Cancer Research
UK website offers more information about cancer, the charity
and how to support Cancer Research UK
- Cancer Research UK’s Healthy
Living website has information on the benefits of a healthy
lifestyle
- The 'useful links' lists other organisations that we think you
may find helpful
I’m under 18. Where can I get information
and support specifically for young people?
There are plenty of websites, forums and helplines specifically for
young people where you can talk, share experiences and get support
online.
Teen Info on Cancer (TIC)
is a site dedicated to providing information for people between 12
and 24 who have been affected by cancer. It has information, practical
advice, and support on all aspects of cancer, and there is also an
online community of young people affected by cancer. You can make
friends on the forum, write a blog and share your experiences with
others.
RipRap
is a website aimed to help young people cope when one of their parents
has cancer. It has information, support, advice and forums where you
can share your stories with other young people.
CancerHelp UK also has
links
to other organisations that offer information and support for
children and young people with cancer.
I am a US citizen. Where can I get more
information about cancer that may be more relevant to me?
Cancer Chat is a UK based
site, so it is likely to contain information about the UK’s healthcare
system and people may use terminology or mention treatments that are
specific to the UK. The American
Cancer Society has a large online forum which you may find more
helpful.
I have a rare
form of cancer, where can I get more information?
It is worth searching CancerHelp
UK's list of cancers, as the website covers over 95% of cancers
diagnosed in the UK. In addition to this, the Rarer
Cancers Forum offers advice and information to individuals with
rare and less common cancers or to their families and friends.
The American Cancer Society has
a forum with a discussion board entitled Rare
Cancers. The experiences people talk about are likely to refer
to American healthcare, but you may still find it helpful to talk
to someone who has the same type of cancer as you, even if they are
part of a different healthcare system.
«
Top of page
Giving us feedback
How can I give you feedback?
Please send us a message using the 'contact us' button.
« Top of page
« Back to Cancer Chat
|