“In April 2016, I was diagnosed with a rare type of bone cancer called a chordoma tumour in the base of my skull. When I first saw the MRI scan of my brain, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. My consultant said it was the biggest tumour he’d ever seen, and would need very careful planning and treatment. I had my first operation in June 2016, a 24-hour surgery spread over two days, and I had several more surgeries before flying to Jacksonville in Florida to receive proton beam therapy. This be