Charlton Health is pleased to support Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Each Friday, staff who are donating are entitled to wear blue jeans to work. Colorectal cancer is the 4th most diagnosed cancer in Canada, and there is a 90% cure rate when found early.
As outlined on the Colorectal Cancer Canada website, the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) is a screening test for colorectal cancer. It detects small amounts of blood in your stool that are not visible to the naked eye. You can do it at home in a few minutes. It is: easy, painless, private, and free. Individuals between the ages of 50 and 74 without a personal or family history of colorectal cancer are suggested for testing. If you do not have a family doctor to access the FIT test kit, you can call 1-866-828-9213 to access a home test kit. Those with a higher risk for colorectal cancer may be referred for a colonoscopy instead of a FIT for their screening. The main message is to get tested, as early detection is the key!
Carolyn Whiskin is the Pharmacy Manager for Charlton Health. Carolyn specializes in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, pharmaceutical compounding, women’s health, pain, and smoking cessation. Carolyn has won provincial and national awards for her commitment to patient care and public service.
Kunal Bhatt, RPh, PharmD, HBSc is a staff pharmacist for Charlton Health. As a 2020 PharmD graduate from the University of Toronto, Kunal possesses a diverse range of experiences from working in hospital and community pharmacy settings. Kunal was heavily invested in contributing to the efforts against COVID-19 by administering upwards of 5000 COVID-19 vaccines at William Osler Health System’s vaccination clinics.