The World Cancer Day 2026 theme is: ‘UNITED BY UNIQUE. United in our message, unique in our stories.’ We hear from Graham, our finance and monitoring officer, about his experience with cancer.
“On this World Cancer Day, I am reflecting on a journey that began for me in June 2021 when I was diagnosed with advanced stage prostate cancer. It was a life-changing moment that brought much uncertainty, but it also highlighted something incredibly positive: the power of a supportive workplace.
Crucially, I found that choosing to be open about my diagnosis with my colleagues was a turning point for my mental health and well-being. Talking about cancer isn’t just about medical updates; it’s about processing the emotional weight of the disease. My colleagues didn’t just listen; they provided a safe space for me to share my true feelings, even on the hard days.
I want to publicly thank DIAL Barnsley for their unwavering support leading up to my surgery and throughout my recovery. Knowing my job was secure and my work colleagues were behind me allowed me to focus entirely on my health. To employers everywhere: Your support is just as vital as the medical treatment. To my fellow survivors: You don’t have to carry the burden in silence.
This is me, 4 weeks after surgery when I started to get more active by walking the golf course; two weeks after this, I was back playing again. By being positively active, by mid June 2022, I completed 100 holes of golf in a day (taking 15 hours and covering over 35 miles) with one of my friends, raising £4,500 for Prostate Cancer UK.
