Clark

The Big 'C'

Bowel cancer awareness and support for young patients in Dorset.

Ducks & Drakes Cancer Trust Founded in 2012 by Andrew Drake and his family after his own bowel cancer diagnosis at 24. The Trust raises awareness of bowel cancer in 18–40 year olds, and helps patients and families in Dorset with financial grants and specialist equipment. Registered charity No. 1147024. Visit their website →

Signs of bowel cancer

If you have any of these, see your GP right away — it's almost always something else, but it's always worth checking.

Bleeding from your bottom, or blood in your stools
A change in bowel habit lasting 3 weeks or moreespecially looser or runnier stools
Unexplained weight loss
Extreme tiredness for no obvious reason
A severe pain or lump in your tummy

Contact Ducks & Drakes

For grant applications, donations, or anything more detailed, their website has the full picture.

Chair
Becky Howorth
07989 624554
Secretary
Liz Tite
01258 472501
Treasurer
Jane Weeden
07899 928467
info@ducksdrakescancertrust.org.uk →

4 The Causeway, Milborne St. Andrew, Blandford Forum, Dorset DT11 0JX

Apply for a grant → Donate → Facebook → Instagram →

Prostate cancer — signs and risk

Often no symptoms at all in the early stages — that's exactly why knowing your risk matters.

Needing to pee more often, especially at night
A sudden urge to pee, or difficulty getting started
Straining, or taking a long time to pee
A weak flow
Feeling that your bladder hasn't fully emptied
Blood in urine or semen
Erectile dysfunction
New from June 2026

The UK government has accepted a recommendation for targeted PSA screening: men aged 45–61 with a known BRCA2 gene change and a family history of prostate, breast, ovarian or pancreatic cancer are now offered a free PSA test every 2 years. This is being rolled out — if it applies to you, ask your GP.

Who else should consider a test

Any man aged 50+can ask their GP for a free PSA test, even without symptoms
Black men, from age 45higher risk group — worth a conversation with your GP
Anyone with a father or brother who's had prostate cancer, from age 45
Confirmed BRCA2 gene carriersoffered annual PSA tests from age 40

There's no national call-up programme like there is for breast, bowel or cervical screening — outside the new targeted group above, you have to ask your GP yourself.

Getting tested — in simple terms

There's no special testing centre for this one — it happens at your normal GP surgery.

It's a simple blood testdone at your GP surgery — no special prep, though avoid vigorous exercise or ejaculation for 2 days before
It measures PSA (prostate specific antigen)a raised level doesn't always mean cancer — about 2 in 3 men with a raised PSA don't have it
If your PSA is raisedyour GP may also do a physical exam and refer you for further tests, such as an MRI scan or biopsy

Prostate Cancer UK's risk checker →