0:00:10 > 0:00:12This is Phoebe.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14She's six years old.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19When I draw a picture, I feel happy.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22It reminds me of nice things.
0:00:23 > 0:00:26Since she had an operation to remove a malignant brain tumour
0:00:26 > 0:00:32in 2015, Phoebe and her mum Rachel have found ways to talk about it.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35I'm a happy person,
0:00:35 > 0:00:41even when we go through hard things, like my cancer.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44SHE PLAYS: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
0:00:44 > 0:00:50There was a big lump inside my head, about the size of a tennis ball.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55And what happened to the lump?
0:00:57 > 0:00:59It got taken out by the doctors.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04Phoebe's dad Matthew
0:01:04 > 0:01:08will never forget the call that came with news of Phoebe's diagnosis.
0:01:08 > 0:01:12She'd been taken to hospital the day before with repeated vomiting
0:01:12 > 0:01:14and headaches.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17My phone rang and it was Rach.
0:01:17 > 0:01:21It was terrifying and, although Rach didn't tell me on the phone
0:01:21 > 0:01:25that it was a tumour, I could hear the fear in her voice.
0:01:29 > 0:01:3425 years ago, I too heard the words, "You have a brain tumour,"
0:01:34 > 0:01:36and I know how really frightening that is.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39At the time, I had two young children aged eight and four
0:01:39 > 0:01:43and, in fact, it was my daughter who came into the room and found me
0:01:43 > 0:01:48in the throes of an epileptic fit, and that was how I was diagnosed.
0:01:52 > 0:01:56I know that my brain tumour will get me eventually
0:01:56 > 0:01:59but not for a long while yet.
0:02:00 > 0:02:06Chris is 29 and, today, he's come to hospital for an MRI scan to
0:02:06 > 0:02:10make sure his brain tumour isn't growing back.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13Since having surgery to remove it two years ago,
0:02:13 > 0:02:17he's had to come here for scans every four months.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19It's extremely stressful.
0:02:19 > 0:02:23I'm convinced that it's bad news every time.
0:02:23 > 0:02:27It isn't every time so, hopefully, today's no different.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30Chris discovered he had a tumour when his partner Holly
0:02:30 > 0:02:34found him having a seizure in his sleep.
0:02:34 > 0:02:38For Chris, today's scan is especially important.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41At Christmas, me and my partner Holly
0:02:41 > 0:02:44are going to head over to San Francisco.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48It's going to be great family time but if I did get terrible news
0:02:48 > 0:02:52on Monday, based on this scan, then who knows?
0:02:53 > 0:02:55So, fingers crossed.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00Having a brain tumour is a terrifying experience and
0:03:00 > 0:03:03it can leave you feeling very alone and disoriented.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06That's why I want to tell you about the work of Brainstrust.
0:03:06 > 0:03:08It's the only charity in the UK
0:03:08 > 0:03:11that offers personalised support
0:03:11 > 0:03:12for people with brain tumours
0:03:12 > 0:03:14and their families,
0:03:14 > 0:03:1724 hours a day, seven days a week.
0:03:18 > 0:03:23Every few weeks, all round Britain, Brainstrust organises events
0:03:23 > 0:03:27like this one, for people who've experienced a brain tumour.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31When I come here, I meet people that are in a similar boat.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33They know what it is to have brain surgery.
0:03:33 > 0:03:38Over dinner, funded by the charity, meet-ups provide
0:03:38 > 0:03:43an opportunity for everyone here to stay connected and feel less alone.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45My hair's not as long as it was,
0:03:45 > 0:03:47I'm not drinking as much.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49SHE LAUGHS
0:03:49 > 0:03:53I've been to maybe seven, eight of these in the last two years,
0:03:53 > 0:03:56and I know that I'll be the guy that's coming back
0:03:56 > 0:03:59in 20 years, because I have to believe that.
0:03:59 > 0:04:03It has been so wonderful to hear so much chatter and conversation
0:04:03 > 0:04:06and laughter tonight. It really warms our hearts.
0:04:08 > 0:04:13But, sadly, it's not just adults who need help from Brainstrust.
0:04:13 > 0:04:17Brain tumours are the deadliest form of cancer for children in the UK,
0:04:17 > 0:04:20and 500 are diagnosed each year.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23Think about it - that's 500 families
0:04:23 > 0:04:25having to come to terms with the news
0:04:25 > 0:04:28that their child has a brain tumour.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30Now Brainstrust has set up Little Brainstrust,
0:04:30 > 0:04:33specifically for these families.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36When Phoebe's tumour was diagnosed,
0:04:36 > 0:04:41her parents had no idea what to expect or how to cope.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44I wanted to know as much I could about the stats,
0:04:44 > 0:04:47because you're trying to claw at a little bit of control, I think.
0:04:47 > 0:04:48You've lost all control,
0:04:48 > 0:04:51so, for me, statistics and information
0:04:51 > 0:04:52was a bit of that control.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55A social worker at the hospital
0:04:55 > 0:04:58put Rachel in contact with Brainstrust.
0:04:58 > 0:05:02Brainstrust gave me the brain box,
0:05:02 > 0:05:04which contained loads of really useful stuff.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09It has a lot of information, from very easy-to-understand material,
0:05:09 > 0:05:13right through to sort of a book written by a former consultant.
0:05:13 > 0:05:17Finding reliable information has meant
0:05:17 > 0:05:20that you are able to prepare yourself, I think, emotionally
0:05:20 > 0:05:22for whatever might be next.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26Phoebe's brain box included a diary called My Brain Book
0:05:26 > 0:05:30that the family used to keep information given by their doctors.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33It's really handy to have,
0:05:33 > 0:05:36because being emotional is exhausting,
0:05:36 > 0:05:39you're permanently just so tired
0:05:39 > 0:05:42as you're coming to terms with your child's diagnosis.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44As well as the brain box,
0:05:44 > 0:05:50the charity offers 24-hour support and advice by phone and online.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52Something like Brainstrust,
0:05:52 > 0:05:56it's really, really key to just coping emotionally,
0:05:56 > 0:05:59and not feeling that you're on your own.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02The Brainstrust meet-ups aren't just for adults.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05Here in Sheffield, the charity has brought
0:06:05 > 0:06:08children and their families together
0:06:08 > 0:06:10to share their experiences.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14I like it here because they've been through
0:06:14 > 0:06:16the same thing as me.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19Brainstrust have been brilliant in supporting us
0:06:19 > 0:06:22along this unexpected journey that we've found ourselves on.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25It's offered a chance to connect with other families
0:06:25 > 0:06:28going through something similar.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32I get to know them through cancer.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39Brainstrust is offering something that's quite unlike
0:06:39 > 0:06:41anything else that's out there -
0:06:41 > 0:06:42special, tailor-made support
0:06:42 > 0:06:44for anyone who's undergoing the stress
0:06:44 > 0:06:46of living with a brain tumour,
0:06:46 > 0:06:48and Brainstrust needs our help
0:06:48 > 0:06:51to carry on doing its wonderful work.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57In London, after an anxious weekend,
0:06:57 > 0:07:01Chris is due to get the results of his MRI scan.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03If his tumour is still stable,
0:07:03 > 0:07:06he and Holly can go ahead with their trip to the USA
0:07:06 > 0:07:08to spend Christmas with his family.
0:07:08 > 0:07:14I'm terrified, but hopefully, in ten minutes' time, I won't be.
0:07:14 > 0:07:15I don't know what I would do
0:07:15 > 0:07:17if it were bad news,
0:07:17 > 0:07:19other than I know the first thing I would do
0:07:19 > 0:07:22would be go and speak to Brainstrust.
0:07:26 > 0:07:28Well, I've had a good look at your scans,
0:07:28 > 0:07:31and actually they're stable.
0:07:31 > 0:07:33So that's really good.
0:07:34 > 0:07:36It's a huge relief.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38Not just for today, it feels...
0:07:38 > 0:07:40like a bigger relief than it has before.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43It feels like we can... get on a bit
0:07:43 > 0:07:46and...enjoy life?
0:07:50 > 0:07:54Around 60,000 people with brain tumours in the UK
0:07:54 > 0:07:58are living with the anxiety of regular scans.
0:07:58 > 0:08:03Brainstrust makes people feel strong enough to tackle life with a tumour.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07So, next time, instead of going out and spending money on having dinner,
0:08:07 > 0:08:11why not put that money towards helping someone with a brain tumour?
0:08:11 > 0:08:14A brain box like the one sent to little Phoebe
0:08:14 > 0:08:16costs just £40 to put together,
0:08:16 > 0:08:20so perhaps you could think in terms of contributing to one of those,
0:08:20 > 0:08:24but just please give whatever you can.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28To give by phone, call 0800 011 011.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31Calls are free from mobiles and landlines.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33You can also donate £10,
0:08:33 > 0:08:36by texting DONATE to 70121.
0:08:36 > 0:08:40Texts cost £10, plus your standard network message charge,
0:08:40 > 0:08:43and the whole £10 goes to Brainstrust.
0:08:43 > 0:08:45For full terms and conditions,
0:08:45 > 0:08:47or to make a donation online,
0:08:47 > 0:08:52visit the Lifeline website at bbc.co.uk/lifeline.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55Or, if you'd like to post a donation,
0:08:55 > 0:08:57please make your cheque payable to Brainstrust
0:08:57 > 0:09:00and send it to Freepost, BBC Lifeline Appeal,
0:09:00 > 0:09:04writing "Brainstrust" on the back of the envelope.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06Whatever and however you donate,
0:09:06 > 0:09:08thank you so much.