Becky Measures
Encyclopedia
Becky Measures from Bakewell
, Derbyshire, is a DJ on Peak FM, an independent local radio
station
in Derbyshire and charity
fund-raiser.
She held a variety of jobs including being an extra
for the locally filmed television series Peak Practice
before moving into radio
.
In 2004, Measures, then 23, decided to have a double mastectomy
after a genetic
test revealed that she had an 80 to 90 per cent risk of developing breast cancer
. Both her mother and a cousin, Helen, had suffered from the same illness.
To help raise raise funds to build Europe's first breast cancer prevention centre, she organised a calendar
of tasteful, naked photographs of different local people including members of Chesterfield FC.
On 6 June 2006, ITV
broadcast a documentary entitled My Breasts or My Life about Measures and her decision to have her breasts removed. The programme, filmed over two years, follows the decision and preparation for the operation as well as her, and her family's, feelings afterwards.
In October 2006, a book detailing her life, decision and operation was published called No Big Deal by Peak FM Newsreader Simon Towers on Boltneck Publishings; a song bearing the same title was also released in February 2007 by Ovacast featuring Becky on vocals. It has reached #67 on the UK Singles Chart
.
Measures is now a volunteer dog walker for the Chesterfield & North Derbyshire Branch of the RSPCA
, and was a guest judge at their Fun Dog Show on 17 June 2007.
Bakewell
Bakewell is a small market town in the Derbyshire Dales district of Derbyshire, England, deriving its name from 'Beadeca's Well'. It is the only town included in the Peak District National Park, and is well known for the local confection Bakewell Pudding...
, Derbyshire, is a DJ on Peak FM, an independent local radio
Independent Local Radio
Independent Local Radio is the collective name given to commercial radio stations in the United Kingdom. The same name is used for Independent Local Radio in Ireland.-Development of ILR:...
station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
in Derbyshire and charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
fund-raiser.
She held a variety of jobs including being an extra
Extra (actor)
A background actor or extra is a performer in a film, television show, stage, musical, opera or ballet production, who appears in a nonspeaking, nonsinging or nondancing capacity, usually in the background...
for the locally filmed television series Peak Practice
Peak Practice
Peak Practice is a British drama series about a GP surgery in Cardale — a small fictional town in the Derbyshire Peak District — and the doctors who worked there. It ran on ITV from 10 May 1993 to 30 January 2002 and was one of their most successful series at the time...
before moving into radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
.
In 2004, Measures, then 23, decided to have a double mastectomy
Mastectomy
Mastectomy is the medical term for the surgical removal of one or both breasts, partially or completely. Mastectomy is usually done to treat breast cancer; in some cases, women and some men believed to be at high risk of breast cancer have the operation prophylactically, that is, to prevent cancer...
after a genetic
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
test revealed that she had an 80 to 90 per cent risk of developing breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
. Both her mother and a cousin, Helen, had suffered from the same illness.
To help raise raise funds to build Europe's first breast cancer prevention centre, she organised a calendar
Calendar
A calendar is a system of organizing days for social, religious, commercial, or administrative purposes. This is done by giving names to periods of time, typically days, weeks, months, and years. The name given to each day is known as a date. Periods in a calendar are usually, though not...
of tasteful, naked photographs of different local people including members of Chesterfield FC.
On 6 June 2006, ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
broadcast a documentary entitled My Breasts or My Life about Measures and her decision to have her breasts removed. The programme, filmed over two years, follows the decision and preparation for the operation as well as her, and her family's, feelings afterwards.
In October 2006, a book detailing her life, decision and operation was published called No Big Deal by Peak FM Newsreader Simon Towers on Boltneck Publishings; a song bearing the same title was also released in February 2007 by Ovacast featuring Becky on vocals. It has reached #67 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
Measures is now a volunteer dog walker for the Chesterfield & North Derbyshire Branch of the RSPCA
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a charity in England and Wales that promotes animal welfare. In 2009 the RSPCA investigated 141,280 cruelty complaints and collected and rescued 135,293 animals...
, and was a guest judge at their Fun Dog Show on 17 June 2007.