Becky Measures was just 24 when she made a life-changing decision that would alter her future forever. In 2004, she discovered she carried the BRCA1 gene mutation, significantly increasing her risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. The BBC Radio Derby breakfast show presenter's mother, Wendy Watson, had faced a similar dilemma 12 years earlier. Her choice to have a preventative double mastectomy in 1992 was believed to be the first of its kind in the UK.
Measures' decision was influenced by her cousin Helen's breast cancer diagnosis at just 29. However, it was also fuelled by a desire to act before the disease could take hold. She remembered: "Neither of us had cancer, but we knew the risk we faced, and we chose to act before the disease had the chance to." This was not a decision taken lightly – extensive counselling and difficult conversations preceded the major surgery and subsequent reconstructive procedures.
The catalyst for Measures' proactive approach was her own journey to understand her genetic risk. Her mother, Wendy Watson, had made a similar choice at 38 after identifying a history of breast cancer in nine out of twelve family members. Watson, who founded the National Hereditary Breast Cancer Helpline and was awarded an MBE in 2012 for her services, described a "eureka moment" where she realised that preventative surgery could pre-empt the devastating consequences of a cancer diagnosis, such as chemotherapy and mortality.
The BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations are inherited genetic changes that significantly increase a person's lifetime risk of developing certain cancers. According to Cancer Research UK, around 5-10% of breast cancers are thought to be hereditary. The lifetime risk of developing breast cancer for women with a BRCA1 mutation can be as high as 60-85%, while the risk of ovarian cancer can be between 20-40%. Genetic testing is available for individuals with a strong family history of these cancers, and for those who test positive, options include increased surveillance, risk-reducing medication, or preventative surgery like a double mastectomy or oophorectomy (removal of ovaries).
Measures' story highlights the complex and deeply personal choices individuals face when confronted with a high genetic risk of cancer. Her mother's pioneering decision and subsequent advocacy have paved the way for greater awareness and support for others in similar situations. To commemorate 20 years since Measures' surgery, BBC Radio Derby is launching the 'It Starts With You' campaign to educate the public about hereditary cancers through roadshows and collaborations with medical professionals.