BBC presenter Victoria Derbyshire diagnosed with breast cancer

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/aug/19/bbc-victoria-derbyshire-diagnosed-breast-cancer

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Broadcaster Victoria Derbyshire has announced that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

The award-winning radio and TV journalist, 46, announced on Twitter on Wednesday evening that she would undergo a mastectomy as part of her treatment in the coming weeks and that she hoped to continue broadcasting her Victoria Derbyshire TV programme “as much as possible” while she recovered.

She joined BBC Radio Five Live in 1998, going on to co-present the breakfast show with Nicky Campbell before taking over the station’s mid-morning show. In April, she began presenting a new current affairs television show that the BBC flagged as a new centrepiece for their daytime scheduling, airing on both BBC2 and BBC News.

Derbyshire said friends, family and colleagues were offering support and the NHS staff looking after her “were being brilliant”.

Derbyshire, who has also presented Newsnight, won a speech broadcaster of the year award in 2014. Her talent has been widely praised, with BBC bosses saying they wanted the immediacy she brought to her radio show to translate to TV. A BBC spokesman said: “We wish Victoria a full and speedy recovery & look forward to having her back full time as soon as possible.”

Derbyshire, who is married to BBC editor Mark Sandall, has two children. She had missed some of her shows in the past six weeks, explaining she was taking time off during the summer holidays to spend time with her family.

Will be doing the programme as much as possible during treatment in the months ahead 2/2

Her announcement to her 49,500 Twitter followers was followed by messages of support from friends and fans. Telegraph columnist Mary Ridell tweeted: “Applaud @vicderbyshire for positivity and courage, ” while fellow radio broadcaster Ranvir Singh added: @vicderbyshire ah take care of yourself, hope next few months are as positive as possible, and come back stronger.

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in the UK and specialists say if caught early enough it can be treated with good success rates.

Matthew Burton, the star of the BBC TV series Educating Yorkshire, added: “@vicderbyshire So so sorry to hear this dreadful news Victoria. Thinking of you and your family. Get well soon you brilliant human being. X”

Related: Victoria Derbyshire interview: ‘I can be bold to anyone’

In an interview with the Guardian last year, she talked about some of her favourite moments of her 5 Live career: “I could give you a million examples. Staying at a hostel for women who were addicted to drugs and used to be prostitutes was such an eye-opener, and had such an amazing response from listeners. Doing a programme from Guantánamo Bay. Doing a programme from an abortion clinic, in a really straightforward, factual way. Almost every day there is someone who is amazing, or has taken a leap of faith and decided to contact a national radio station and reveal something deeply personal. I cannot underestimate that.”