BBC presenter and mum 'chose to act' before cancer with double mastectomies

Twenty years ago, Becky Measures made one of the biggest decisions of her life by having a preventative double mastectomy at 24 - becoming the youngest woman in Britain to undergo the procedure.

Becky said she found out in 2004 that she carried the BRCA1 gene mutation, meaning she had a significantly increased risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

She followed in the footsteps of her mum Wendy Watson, who carried the same gene mutation and in 1992 was believed to be the first person in the UK to have a preventative double mastectomy.

Becky, BBC Radio Derby's breakfast show presenter, said: "Neither of us had cancer, but we knew the risk we faced, and we chose to act before the disease had the chance to."

"It didn't take away the fact that I was young and I was scared because I didn't know what it was going to look like, going to feel like," the 44-year-old said.

Becky - who also had re-constructive surgery - said: "I just had to be OK with the fact that it was the right thing to do.

"And also there was a part of me as well that thought, 'if I don't do it how selfish', and I did think that for a little bit.

"It wasn't a decision I took lightly. It involved counselling, difficult conversations and major surgery.

"There were moments of fear and uncertainty, but there was also hope and the belief that I was giving myself the best possible chance of a healthy future."

Becky said when her cousin Helen was diagnosed with breast cancer at 29, it "fast-forwarded" her own journey to seek answers on whether she was likely to develop the disease herself sooner than expected.

"This is one of the things that always gets me is when Helen always says, 'if me getting it meant it saved you, then I am glad it happened'," Becky said.

Becky said her mum had the surgery at 38 after discovering nine out of 12 family members had breast cancer, and that she also carried the gene.

Wendy, the founder of the National Hereditary Breast Cancer Helpline, was appointed MBE for services to people with breast cancer in 2012.

She said: "Once I'd discovered that there were nine relatives, I went to be checked frequently to catch it early.

"I used to be checked every three months which was terrifying, thinking this is going to be the time.

"Then I thought, 'this is crazy, I'm waiting to get it and then hoping that I've caught it in time - why don't I choose to have the surgery now, then I know I've caught it in time?'.

"I had a eureka moment and I thought, 'you know if I had the surgery before I got the breast cancer that would stop all the other problems associated, like dying, chemotherapy and all the rest of it'.

"I think that shocked a lot of people, but to me it was just completely matter-of-fact."

Becky said her mum was an advocate for others grappling with their own tough decisions in similar situations.

"I am hugely, hugely proud, not just that she fought for herself and, you know, to make sure that she had a great quality of life but she then fought for others to make sure that other people were able to get the recognition that they needed and to get all of the support no matter what their choice.

"Really if it wasn't for Mum, would we be where we are today? That makes me very proud," Becky said.

To mark 20 years since Becky had her surgery in 2006, BBC Radio Derby is launching the It Starts With You campaign to shine a spotlight on hereditary cancers.

As part of the campaign, the station will be running a number of roadshows alongside medical professionals to help members of the public learn more about hereditary cancers.

Becky said her experience had ignited a passion for raising awareness and helping other families understand the importance of knowing their history, recognising their risk and making informed choices.

She said: "Now, 20 years later, I can honestly say I don't regret it for a second.

"I'm 44 years old, a proud mum of two wonderful children, and I'm healthy, happy and excited about everything life still has to offer.

"Cancer is a frightening word, but knowledge really is power.

"Understanding your family history, recognising the signs and taking action early can make all the difference - not just for you, but for your children and generations to come."

Karen Potts, lead familial cancer specialist at the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, said the "most important thing" was being aware of your family history.

"Many people know relatives who have had cancer, but they may not know things like what type of cancer it was, how old the relative was when diagnosed or which side of the family it came from.

"It's important to remember that most cancers are not inherited - but knowing more about your family history can help us identify families who do have an inherited cancer risk, and support us to offer options such as earlier screening, preventative strategies and, where appropriate, genetic testing," she said.

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