Fiona Goldsby: Mother, 37, keeps touching cancer diary... Fiona Goldsby was diagnosed with a tumour in October 2008 She was told it was benign and that she would not need any treatment But a year later her arm started twitching and so she had an MRI scan It revealed that the tumour was growing and aggressive and that she needed immediate surgery to remove it and then radiotherapy The tumour returned a few months later so she had chemotherapy It has now shrunk and Mrs Goldsby's life is returning to normal By Catherine Jones and Fiona Goldsby It was a shocking diagnosis that eventually turned her life upside down. Fiona Goldsby was told she had a brain tumour but that it was benign and she would not require treatment. Then a year later her arm began to twitch, and more tests showed she had an aggressive form of cancer. Here the mother from Lincoln documents her experiences while fighting the disease. October 2008 I've had a tingling in my hand for a while so decided to visit the doctor. he referred me to a spieclist who said I needed a scan. It's revealed that I have a benign brain tumour. I was shocked when he told me but the doctor said his level of concern was "on the floor." I'm not going to tell my son Lewis, eight, as I don't want to worry him. Fiona Goldsby (pictured on her wedding day, before she fell ill) was diagnosed with a benign brain tumour after she started noticing a tingling sensation in one of her hands Besides, though it's a shock being told I have a tumour, I've been told it won't affect me. I just need regular scans to make sure it stays benign. October 2009 I've come back from holiday in St Lucia. My arm has started to behave really weirdly - there was a moment when my right arm twitched uncontrollably and I had an urge to throw a bottle across the room. I don't know what's going on but suddenly I'm terrified. I'm in a beach paradise but all I can think about is getting home. I know something isn't right but my GP has told me to wait for my routine scan in January 2010. Mrs Goldsby (pictured with her husband Roy in St Lucia) was told not to worry about the tumour but a year later, while she was on holiday, one of her arms started twitching and she became concerned the tumour had grown January 2010 The MRI scan has revealed that the tumour is growing and aggressive and that I need an operation to remove it. My husband Roy has been supportive and has been listening as I tell him how scared I am. Will I ever see Lewis grow up? I feel so alone but I've been allocated a Macmillan nurse who has been talking me through the next steps and it's really quite reassuring. To be honest, Roy's in denial about what's happening. He's fifteen years older than me so he keeps saying: "You dying first isn't in the script. It should be me going first. Mrs Goldsby (pictured on her last holiday before she was diagnosed with her husband, Roy, her son, Lewis, and her stepdaughter, Phoebe) underwent tests when she returned home from St Lucia and it was discovered that the tumour was growing I'm breaking inside but we have decided not to tell Lewis. He's going on a residential school trip which conveniently falls on the date of my op so I think I'll tell him when he gets back. I've done a good job of acting excited about his trip. I'm sure he noticed I hugged him for a long time before he left though. Will it be my last hug with him? I've written letters to Roy and Lewis and hidden them in the house, telling them how proud I am of them both. I tell Roy where they are in case I don't make it. Lewis is gone and the dog's gone to the kennel. The house feels eerily quiet. 15th February 2010 Before her surgery, surgeons put markers on Mrs Goldsby's face (pictured) to help them located the tumour. Before the operation, she wrote letters to her husband and son in case she did not survive Doctors have stuck markers on my face as a guide of where they need to operate. "If you need help knowing where my brain is, that doesn't give me much faith," I joked with them. Me and Roy went to a restaurant by the hospital before the op. I had a glass of champagne and lobster - I might as well do it in style! To be honest it did feel strange eating it with a medical bracelet on. We chattered incessantly, scared by the silence. I feel like a prisoner on death row at the moment. The waiting is the worst bit about the whole situation. Before the surgery, Mrs Goldsby and her husband, Roy, went out for a meal and had champagne and lobster (pictured). Mrs Goldsby said it was odd going out for dinner while wearing a hospital bracelet 16th February 2010 Being wheeled down to theatre and seeing Roy watch me go was the worst thing I've ever had to do. Neither of us spoke. Roy was trying to wipe his tears away. When I came round, the first thing I heard was Roy's Brummie accent. I had a terrible headache but I was alive! I wasn't allowed morphine though as the doctors wanted to assess my brain function. When Mrs Goldsby came round after the operation (pictured) she says that the first thing she heard was her husbands Birmingham accent. She remembers that she had a headache but that she was happy to be alive Mrs Goldsby (pictured the morning after her operation) was allowed home after four days in hospital. She decided to call her tumour Tallulah because it is a rare name and the tumour is rare 20th February 2010 Finally I've been allowed home to Lincoln after four days in hospital. My friends always joke that I'm always in Starbucks and it was my first port of call on the way home. It's the best coffee I've ever tasted. As soon as I get home, I burn the letters I wrote to Roy and Lewis and it's a big relief that they won't have to read them. Lewis came home and I told him I had a tumour but that it's been taken out. I named the tumour Tallulah and refer to it as that from then on. It's an unusual name, fitting as my tumour is rare. I think giving it a name has helped me and Lewis deal with the situation psychologically - it doesn't feel as frightening. On her way home from the hospital, Mrs Goldsby says that the first thing she did was to stop at Starbucks. She says that it was the best coffee she has ever tasted March 2010 I've begun radiotherapy. I have to wear a horrible mask with just a tiny hole in it to breathe through. It makes me feel claustrophobic. I've started to lose my hair. I didn't expect it to happen with radiotherapy. We've planned a holiday though so I went shopping to try on bikinis. But when I saw my semi-bald reflection in the mirror, I burst into tears. I felt so ugly. I've always experimented with my hair, choosing different colours and lengths. Just because I'm losing my hair I don't want my illness to stop me having fun, so I've invested in three wigs - one is a crop, there's an auburn bob, and a long, light brown one. After the operation Mrs Goldsby had radiotherapy. She says she had to wear a 'horrible' mask (pictured) which made her feel claustrophobic and that it was so scary that she later used it as a Halloween decoration I've been planning a casino party in the local pub as a surprise for Roy's 50th but the stress has forced me to tell him what I am doing. The radiotherapy and op have affected me. I am constantly tired, have a bad memory and sometimes find it difficult to remember certain words. I also get headaches. I managed some surprises for Roy though - he's got a stretch limo, an Aston Martin cake and a collage of the kids. Mrs Goldsby planned a surprise party for her husband's 50th birthday (pictured with her parents) after her treatment. She says that the radiotherapy and the operation had left her constantly tired and forgetful Mrs Goldsby (pictured with her husband, Roy, at his 50th birthday party) said she managed some surprises for Roy like a stretch limo, Aston Martin cake and a collage of the kids August 2010 The tumour's come back. This is the hardest news I've had to deal with. The doctor said it's too risky to operate so I'll need chemo. I feel angry that I went through the radiotherapy for nothing. September 2010 I won't be able to have cheese or alcohol once I start chemo so I've had a big chemo party where I gorged on both. We had a great time and my friend Janey made me a card with the words "Chemo Chick" and a trendy looking bald woman on the front. There were a lot of sore heads in the morning but though I was the one with a brain tumour, I felt fine! I've begun my first chemo cycle. I can't stand the smell of toilet freshener. It makes me feel sick in the same way it did when I had morning sickness with Lewis. Mrs Goldsby had a party before she started chemotherapy and her friend, Janey, made her a card (pictured). She knew she would not be allowed cheese or alcohol while having chemotherapy so had the party as an opportunity to indulge in both Christmas Day 2010 My last tablet for my chemo cycle was today, so I feel really ill. I've missed our tradition of sausage rolls and champagne for breakfast and though I normally love watching the soaps on TV I fell asleep. I heard my family saying what a shame it was that I was asleep. I cried to myself, feeling like I'd ruined Christmas. Roy tried to inject some fun into the day by buying me a horrid Granny handbag as a joke present. I got some Ugg boots too to keep me cosy. I've spoiled Lewis rotten, terrified this might be my last Christmas with him. Mrs Goldsby (pictured at Christmas) says that she felt very ill during Christmas 2010 as she was still having chemotherapy. As a result, she missed out on her favourite Christmas breakfast of sausage rolls Mrs Goldsby was so ill that she fell asleep during the Christmas celebrations and was upset because she felt as though she had ruined Christmas for the rest of the family New Year's Eve 2010 I've been to the pub for a family meal and after feeling so sick on Christmas Day, now I'm starving. I have to take gravy granules in my handbag as I can't have yeast because of my treatment. January 2011 I'm on my fourth cycle of chemo and have lost so much weight, I'm a size 6. Mum keeps sneaking veg into all my food as though I'm a kid which Lewis thinks is hilarious. Spag bol with broccoli in it is horrible. The good news is my scan shows the tumour is stable. By New Year's Eve, Mrs Goldsby (pictured with her mother) had finished her course of chemotherapy so the family went out for a meal to celebrate Mrs Goldsby (pictured with her son, Lewis) says that the chemotherapy caused her to lose a lot of weight - she dropped to a size six August 2011 My tumour has shrunk. Hurrah! Just got back from a visit to my parents in Spain where we had a party. I wanted loads of cheese and wine but I've had to wean myself onto dairy products because of my migraines. I can't have booze because I am now on anti-seizure medication. September 2011 I'm so grateful to my two Macmillan nurses for getting me through everything that me and my friends have organised a fundraising event, World's Biggest Coffee Morning. We made champagne cupcakes though we "accidentally" drank a lot of the champagne we were supposed to put in them. They were delicious though and we were thrilled to raise £80. Mrs Goldsby (pictured with her son, Lewis) said she had always experimented with her hair so she bought three wigs to wear when her treatment made her lose her hair Christmas 2011 Mum and Dad have have surprised me with a visit and I have had an amazing Christmas Day. It's been a nightmare but I feel like we've come through the end of it. September 2013 I can't work any more and still have side effects from my illness but I'm so grateful to be alive. I've taken the bull by the horns and done lots of things I always wanted to do - going to the Belgian Grand Prix and to the Ice Bar, London. And in a couple of weeks, on 27 September, I'll be holding another coffee morning for Macmillan Cancer Support to raise funds for the charity. Mrs Goldsby (pictured recently) has now finished her treatment and says that having the cancer has made her appreciate everything that she has. She says that she now makes sure that she makes the most of life Going through cancer was isolating and terrifying but my family, friends and Macmillan nurse have got me through it. Having a brain tumour has made me grateful for everything that I have. Fiona is holding a coffee morning for World's Biggest Coffee Morning on 27th September to help Macmillan Cancer Support ensure that no one faces cancer alone. For your free coffee morning kit, visit www.macmillan.org.uk/coffee or call 0845 602 1246.