Please note that this article includes references to cancer.

Claire Stewart - Ofsted, UK

My first experience with cancer was in 2019 and I hadn’t seen it coming at all. I was four days into my brand-new dream job as a civil servant and riding high on positivity. Over the previous few weeks, I had found a small lump in my armpit and had gone to have it checked over. I had been scanned and had a biopsy “for reassurance” and I wasn’t worried at all. I was 32 with no family history of cancer so I was safe!

So, after a fantastic first week in my new job, I went back to the hospital and was ushered into a room with a consultant and two nurses and sat in disbelief as I was given information about breast cancer and told that they needed to do many more tests. I was so confused. “Could it be anything else?” I asked. The doctor smiled and replied, “Lymphoma.” Either way then, life as I knew it was over.

That evening was a blur of panic and tears and questions. Had it spread? Could I be cured? Would I survive? What would happen to my very small children? And, last but certainly not least, what on earth would I do about my brand-new dream job? I felt so enormously guilty to be letting people down.

In the weeks following my diagnosis I reeled as I was subjected to test after test to determine how far the disease had spread and what treatments would be most appropriate. Soon, I started the first of 8 cycles of chemotherapy. I managed to work around my chemo sessions and work soon became my sanctuary. I could go a whole day barely thinking about cancer and risks and fears, focussing instead on policy development.

Eventually, after ten long months, I found myself at the end of treatment wondering, “what just happened?!” I expected to feel jubilant and immediately back to normal, but I felt numb on completing treatment. I struggled with the anxiety of recurrence (and still do!) To me, every ache or pain is cancer. I was told that this would fade in time and, whilst that is true to a large extent, it is still a present anxiety for me and something that I manage every day, even five years on from diagnosis. In those five years, I have been through so many further surgeries and treatments, meaning that I am regularly trying to build my strength back up again.

So, how did I get involved in the network?

After completing treatment, I accessed a mentoring scheme through a charity called Breast Cancer Now and coincidentally discovered that my mentor was also a civil servant. She told me that there was a cross civil service cancer network which I could become part of. The network was called “the working through cancer network” and had recently been set up by chair Seonaid Webb after her own cancer diagnosis and treatment. I worked with a group of volunteers to launch an arm of the network within my department. That network grew and grew: we ran events, offered support and information and raised money for charity. Eventually, I was invited to become one of the vice-chairs of the cross-civil service network, which I was delighted to accept.

The network has a simple set of core aims - to provide advice and guidance to those who need it; to offer a simple, central source of information; to influence and effect change in policy, ensuring that implications for people with cancer are thought-through; and to offer buddy talking support.

Since its launch, the network has grown and is now represented in over 30 government departments and agencies and has hundreds of members. It has run countless events, raised awareness, increased numbers of people on the global stem cell register and has won awards. We’re really proud of the incredible work that our members do - giving their time and energy to support others as they go through some really difficult times.

The power of the network is in connecting people with others who have shared experiences. Talking to someone “who just gets it” is like magic medicine when you’re at your lowest ebb. No matter what our diagnosis, what our treatment, what our prognosis - we all share many of the same anxieties and worries. We all find humour in some of the darkest places and we all have empathy and love to offer to others going through the tough times. That’s why the Working Through Cancer Network were delighted when Nikki reached out for advice about setting up a network. It’s a brilliant example of how we can connect across organisational and even international boundaries to support one another and provide advice and guidance.

Nikki Isaac: Ontario Public Service, Canada

I was first diagnosed with a brain tumor in November 2022. I had surgery within days, and then diagnosed with melanoma. Everything happened so quickly that I didn't have time to fully understand what was happening.

The cancer center offered to connect me with support groups. But I didn't want to be connected to people through a shared illness only. At the time, I thought of creating a space for people like me within the Ontario Public Service, but I didn't have the emotional bandwidth.

Fast forward almost two years and another mass showed up on an MRI. I had to have brain surgery a second time, which left me with additional disabilities.

In the time between my first and second surgeries, I found out how many public servants are working with cancer. Once people learn that cancer is something they can talk to you about, you hear many stories that you wouldn't have otherwise. I felt the need to create a safe space for public servants in Ontario.

I spoke to Derek Alton (Apolitical’s Community Insights Lead) about my idea. He quickly sent me an article about the UK Civil Services’ Working through Cancer network. I reached out to Claire, one of the vice-chairs, and we set up a call where I also had the opportunity to meet Seonaid, who is the network chair.

We bonded over our shared experiences having cancer, all the amazing things they have accomplished through the Working Through Cancer network, and what I envisioned for public servants in Ontario. Claire and Seonaid shared resources that jump-started the development of the Ontario Public Service Cancer Alliance Network (OCAN) Community of Support.

The theme for World Cancer Day (2025 - 2027) is ‘United by Unique’. And as I've been able to collaborate with the Working Through Cancer network, this couldn't have felt more applicable. While our jurisdictions are many time zones apart, and our own stories and experiences are unique, we recognized the commonalities in the work we want to achieve for the people we work with.

OCAN is just one of the communities I have had the honour of being able to start. Another is the Pan-Canadian Digital Training Working Group. As the name suggests, people from across Canada are welcome to join to learn from one another and problem-solve common issues. When developing this group, I didn't ask for permission. I just assembled like-minded public servants. Once we made progress together, we were able to report on the benefits and rewards of group membership.

We’re aware of the challenges of working in silos; duplication of efforts, mis-aligned goals, slower decision-making, wasted resources. Breaking down these barriers can start with simple steps. Stop keeping information to yourself. Reach out. Start communicating with others. Defy the roadblocks in your way. The rewards you’ll find along the way are worth it - you will find your allies, you will make change happen (even in the smallest ways) and others will learn from your success.

If you know of any group doing similar work in public service, please reach out to us as we would love to connect - Nikki.Isaac@ontario.ca.

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