text: When Stacey Johnson was diagnosed with a brain tumour, her whole family was heartbroken. The pain of a cancer diagnosis never went away, but after eight years of battling the condition, they cared for her and began to live with the disease. But though she had experienced enough grief, Stacey Johnson was soon delivered another cruel blow - doctors discovered her younger sister Dannii also had a growth in her brain. Stacey, now 22, was diagnosed with an inoperable  tumour in 2007 and has undergone gruelling rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Her sister, Dannii, now 20, helped her mother care for her throughout her teenage years, and became her full-time carer last year. Stacey Johnson (left), 22, from Much Hadham, Hertfordshire, had just been told her brain tumour had grown when she was dealt another blow - her sister Dannii, 20, also had a tumour . Stacey (left) and Dannii (right) have grown up sharing their toys and clothes, and now find themselves both battling ill . In December 2014, Stacey was told her brain tumour, called an astrocytoma, had grown. The family, who live in Much Hadham, Hertfordshire, began to process this frightening news, wondering what treatment Stacey would now have to undergo. But they then suffered another shock – as Dannii was diagnosed with a brain tumour. She had been feeling ill and had suffered headaches, so had gone to her doctor who had referred her for tests that confirmed there was a growth in her brain. She describes her surprise at being told her headaches were being caused by a brain tumour. Dannii said: 'I had never expected it to be a tumour. 'I have been with Stacey through it all and it never even occurred that me that that's what it could be. 'I was really shocked when they told me, but I just got on with it really. Dannii had been Stacey's full time carer since last year, but began to suffer headaches and feel ill. She was shocked to discover she too had a tumour, although hers is benign . Stacey has never been able to work since her diagnosis eight years ago, and has undergone gruelling chemotherapy. She is pictured here with her sister in 2012 . 'I was down for a few days after I was diagnosed, but I thought I can't do anything about it, so I just thought I had to get on with it.' Stacey, who is due start her next round of chemotherapy soon, said the news was so shocking it didn't seem real. She said: 'It sort of felt like a dream and I thought I was going to wake up from it. 'She is one of those types of people who just gets on with it. We are helping each other through it.' The sisters live with their mother, Sharon, 47, their father Brian, 48, and brother Charlie, 28. They were both born with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) - a condition that causes café au lait spots (flat brown birthmarks) on the skin, freckles in unusual places, and benign lumps and bumps. One third of people with the condition will have one or more medical complication during their lifetime, which can include either benign or cancerous brain tumours. However, it is unclear whether the NF1 is related to the sisters' growths, and they say they have been told there probably is no link. Dannii is now awaiting a scan to see if it has grown and what the best course of treatment will be. Both sisters were born with neurofibromatosis type 1 - a condition that causes benign lumps and bumps, although they do not know if it is related to their development of brain tumours . Dannii said she was shocked when she too was diagnosed. She said: 'I have been with Stacey through it all and it never even occurred that me that that's what it could be. The sisters are pictured  in 1997 . She has been told her tumour is not cancerous, and is classed as Grade 1, the lowest risk. However, her mother, Sharon Johnson, 47, is worried the tumour could grow and endanger her health. Mrs Johnson, a housekeeper, said: 'I thought it was a joke when they first told us, I just couldn't believe how this could happen to us again. 'They started to explain more about it and I realised it was nothing like Stacey's. 'Dannii's is at the front of her brain and Stacey's is right at the back.' They have now set up a charity providing days out for children with terminal illnesses . Doctors say Dannii does not need surgery yet, but Mrs Johnson said when Stacey was first diagnosed with a tumour, doctors believed it was benign. She wants Dannii to have the tumours removed, so that it cannot grow and turn into cancer. She said: 'First of all they said they would take it out, but then they did a biopsy and found it wasn't cancerous, so they have decided to monitor for the next few months. 'I am annoyed that they're not doing anything. 'Exactly the same thing happened with Stacey, they said it wasn't cancerous but then it grew within three months. 'If they just take it out now then it wouldn't have the chance to grow. 'They've said that surgery is dangerous and they only do it when absolutely necessary though.' In an effort to help others in the same situation, Stacey has set up a charity called "Kisses for Kids" providing days out for children with terminal or long term illness. The two sisters now spend their time fund-raising for it. Sarah Lindsell, chief executive of The Brain Tumour Charity, said: 'A brain tumour diagnosis is a huge shock for anyone. 'For a family to experience it twice is extraordinarily cruel and our hearts go out to the Johnsons. 'For the sake of all of those like Stacey and Dannii whose lives are turned upside down by a brain tumour, we are absolutely determined to improve treatments through research and raise awareness of this devastating disease.'
target: Stacey Johson, 22, was diagnosed with cancer in her brain eight years ago .
  Her sister Dannii, 20, became her carer last year but suffered headaches .
  After going to the GP Dannii was also found to have a benign brain tumour .
  Stacey has  found out her tumour has grown, while Dannii awaits treatment .