Ep. 718 | It’s Not Too Late: Resurrecting Your Dreams and Protecting Your Health

What dream did you once carry—and somewhere along the way, life caused you to put it aside?

On this episode of The Senior Zone, Shawn Perry sits down with Pastor Scot Moore, author of Resurrecting Your Dream: “Everyone Had a Dream… What Happened to Yours?”. Together, they explore how responsibilities, setbacks, grief, caregiving and simple survival can cause our dreams to become buried—and why growing older does not mean it is too late to rediscover purpose, possibility and hope.

Then, Dr. Eric Wargotz, President of MedChi, the Maryland State Medical Society, joins us for an important conversation about colorectal cancer. We discuss why screening matters, the fears and misconceptions that cause people to delay it, the screening choices that may be available and why feeling perfectly healthy does not mean screening can be ignored.

Plus, we celebrate our Birthdays of the Week, hear from Joel Simone in Dear Grave Woman and share important resources through the Later Life Lowdown.

The Senior Zone is the DMV’s #1 weekly radio program serving the 50+ community since 2012. Follow the podcast, share this episode and send it to someone who may need a reminder that it is not too late to protect their health—or pursue what still lives within them.

Thank you for listening and until we meet again…keep your head high, your heart full, and always — be someone who makes someone else look forward to their tomorrow.
 

Transcript

Opening Show Remarks and Weekly Vitamin

SPEAKER_01 0:01

Welcome to the Senior Zone, where we connect older adults with the organizations and resources that start them.

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The Senior Zone's goal aims to educate, empower, enlighten, entertain, and engage older adults with the toes and information to stay healthy, happy, and secure.

SPEAKER_01 0:19

Great guests, help notes, upcoming events, and useful information.

SPEAKER_10 0:24

Get ready to take notes.

SPEAKER_01 0:27

It's now time for the senior zone.

SPEAKER_06 0:31

Welcome back, family, to another edition of the Senior Zone, the DMV's number one weekly radio program serving our 50 plus community since 2012. I am your host, Sean Perry, and as always, it is a blessing to spend this hour with you. Today's show is about two things that may seem very different, but they are connected by one important truth. We should never become so busy surviving life that we stop protecting it or dreaming about what is still possible. Coming up first, we're talking with Pastor Scott Moore, author of Resurrecting Your Dream. Everyone had a dream. What happened to yours? A lot of us once imagined starting a business, writing a book, traveling, going back to school, finding love again, or simply becoming the person we always believed we could be. Then life happened. But Pastor Moore reminds us that a dream buried beneath responsibility is not necessarily a dream that has died. And then in segment two, we turn our attention to colorectal cancer, one of the cancers that can often be detected early and in some cases prevented through proper screening. Dr. Eric Wargott, president of MedCi, the Maryland State Medical Society, joins us to help remove some of the fear, embarrassment, and confusion that keeps too many people from getting screened. And family, here is this week's weekly vitamin. As long as you are still here, there is still something worth protecting. And something within you still worth pursuing. So don't allow age, fear, or delay to make the final decision of your life. Then later in the show, folks, we'll celebrate our birthdays of the week. We'll hear from Joelle Simone in Dear Grave Woman and then bring you news and resources in your later life lowdown. And folks, remember the senior zone is now available on demand wherever you enjoy your podcast, so you can listen, share, and revisit these conversations anytime. Before we take this quick break, I gotta send some love and gratitude to our sponsors and partners. So thank you, Legal Counsel for the Elderly, AARP of the District of Columbia, AARP of the state of Maryland, Compassion and Choices, Jewish Council for the Aging, Mary Center, and the DC Department of Aging and Community Living. Folks, coming up first, we're talking about the dreams life may have pushed aside, but never completely erased. We'll be right back after this short break, brought to you by Legal Counsel for the Elderly, providing free legal and social work services to DC residents most in need. Don't change your doll. I promise we'll be right back.

SPEAKER_01 3:26

Legal Counsel for the Elderly champions the dignity and rights of DC elders by providing free legal and social work services to those in need. Worried about eviction or foreclosure? Need help obtaining social security or veterans benefits? Call Legal Counsel for the Elderly at 202-434-2120. Income eligibility applies. LCE is an affiliate of AARP 202-434-2120.

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SPEAKER_06 4:30

Welcome

Resurrecting Your Dream with Pastor Scot C. Moore

SPEAKER_06 4:31

back, family, to the senior zone. I am your host, Sean Perry. Now, this next conversation is for anybody who ever had a dream. But somehow along the way, life got in the way. Maybe it was a business, a book, travel, ministry, forgiveness, love, school, or simply becoming the person you always believed you could be. But life happened. Bills, children, caregiving, divorce, loss, health, responsibility. And before you knew it, that dream didn't disappear all at once. It got buried under survival. But today's guest says buried does not mean dead. He is Pastor Scott Moore, author of Resurrecting Your Dream. Everyone had a dream. What happened to yours? Pastor Moore, my friend, welcome to the Senior Zone.

SPEAKER_08 5:23

Brother Sean, thank you so much for having me. I'm excited about being here with you on today.

SPEAKER_06 5:29

I guarantee you are not as excited as I am, my friend. But let's start right there with the title, uh, Pastor Moore. When you say resurrecting your dream, what do you mean? And why do you believe so many people, especially later in life, quietly let their dreams go?

SPEAKER_08 5:45

Wow. Uh first let me start by saying this is based upon the foundation of my belief. And so, but but it's really applicable to people from all different backgrounds and beliefs. But what happens once one year I was preaching about how Jesus got up from the grave and I was talking, I said he was resurrected so that he could resurrect our dreams, and that's where it jumped off. Uh, because what happens, many of us, every single one of us started out with a dream. Every single one of us, somewhere along, life we had a dream, but then life happened. And so when life happens, we tend to get caught up living life, and then we get to a place where we become content in settling for being content, and we stop chasing the dream that I believe are God given. And so that's that's what this book is about. It's really about not settling for Saturday. That's the term I use in the book. Don't settle for Saturday, but let's move towards Sunday because Sunday is the day of the resurrection.

SPEAKER_06 6:53

Yeah, and that's powerful, uh, Pastor Moore, because I think a lot of folks they don't wake up one morning and say, I'm giving up. It just happens slowly, right? And life just keeps stacking things on top of that dream, and before you know it, you know, uh it's it's it's foregone. Your subtitle asks a question that hits home. Everyone had a dream. What happened to yours? What are what have you found to be some of the most common things that happen to people's dreams over time?

SPEAKER_08 7:21

Wow. Well, this is what I really believe that most people don't intentionally give up on their dreams. I I honestly believe that. As you just mentioned, they slowly drift away. Uh very few dreams dry die overnight. They usually fade under the weight of disappointments, delays, detours, doubts, daily responsibilities. I mean, what happens? We get busy raising families, building careers, paying bills, caring for our aging parents, or just simply survival. I mean, that's that's what happens. And so somewhere along the way, we stop believing that our dream is possible, or sometimes we lose the lose the energy to pursue the dreams. And so I think that's one of the greatest tragedy, tragedies that uh we have is that we don't fail, uh, we just settle. We you know, we just settle in and just do life.

SPEAKER_06 8:14

Yeah. From doing the senior zone over the years now, uh, Pastor Amore, and uh just my own life growth and evolution and perspective, I've learned that our dreams, many, they don't, they don't just just die because of lack of desire, as you as you uh just alluded to, but they just get buried under whether it's duty, right, work, other assignments, disappointment, and many, many other things. But and then we just go on from one season to the next in our life's uh journey. I do want to ask you this question. Uh, for many in in the senior zone audience, they've spent years taking care of everybody else, their children, their spouses, their parents, jobs, churches, as well as communities uh that they are involved in. How do they begin to reconnect with a dream without feeling selfish or unrealistic?

SPEAKER_08 9:06

Man, that's a very, very good question. Actually, because I've addressed that personally. Because what happens, we spend so much time, and as a pastor, I spend so much time working with congregants and dealing with their challenges. And then I myself and my wife, we raised two children, and so we poured our lives into them, and then all different things that you're pouring out, pouring out, and pouring out. And then one day, I literally through this process, the Lord was saying, is that who are you and what have you become? And so what happened is I found out that much of that which I had become was what I was doing and not who I was being. And so I had to really wrestle with that because I needed to reclaim who I was, and part of who I was was some of these dreams that God had placed in me. And then it took me back to um to flying. I'm flying on a plane, and the flight attendant said, okay, if we in the case of loss of atmospheric pressure, put your own mask on first and then assist those that are are flying with you. And I used to get have problems with that. But one day I was riding next to a pilot, uh, and I said to the pilot, I said, Why do they tell us to do that? And the pilot said, simply because if you are not able to assist them, then both of you will perish. And it hit me in life, if we're not doing some self-care, if we're not doing some things for ourselves, if we're not taking care of our dreams, it's hard for us to truly help others achieve their dreams. And so we have to really learn how to prioritize. It's not being selfish to have self-care, and it's not being selfish to pursue your dreams because most times your dreams are not just for you. Your dreams are so that you can be a blessing to others. And so when we shift our perspective, it helps us to move away from that attitude of thinking that we're selfish or self-centered when we are pursuing dreams, because our dreams should be focused on blessing others through that which God is blessing us with.

SPEAKER_06 11:22

I could tell you about to get into your preaching mode, my friend. You heard it. You heard it. If not for such a short-winded interview, you right now, you'd have got into your preaching road, my friend, which I understand. But I want to piggyback off of that, uh, Pastor Moore, because I think, you know, we don't give ourselves permission, you know, enough, right? Because as you said, self-care is not selfish, but sometimes we think it is, right? But we need to give ourselves permission because sometimes people just need to hear that, that it's not too late to want something for ourselves, right? And that's what I want to get across uh today. In your book, and I love this right here, because I'm and uh you know I'm into alliterations, right? And here's one. In your book, you talk about delay, doubt, detours, and disappointment. How can someone tell the difference between a dream that needs to be released and a dream that simply needs to be revived?

SPEAKER_08 12:16

That's that's such a powerful question. And um, the way I respond to that is the simple answer. The simple answer is those dreams that are God-given, that are placed in you, that you can never really shake, but that are always there, um, is a those are the dreams that need to be revived and resurrected. The dreams that are ego-centered, those dreams that are self-centered, those dreams about, you know, what uh you would like to attain as far as materialistic things and things, those off times are the ones that fade away. And so it really are it's that that dream that keeps bothering you, that keeps pulling on you, uh, that keeps pushing you. Those are the ones that need to be resurrected because that is more of a calling and purpose than it is of just an action that you feel like you want to do or uh uh a physical or selfish desire. Um, those things, I mean, because there's some things that we want, you know, at certain ages and certain things we say, oh, I really would like to have this car and drive that. That's not what this is about. This really is about purpose. And then as I am uh sharing with you and your audience dreams shift uh in seasons. And so oftentimes we look at I'm gonna give you one example uh about that, is because I really I played baseball all the way up through college and I was a prospect for Major League Baseball. You know, and so if I had the dream, actually I didn't dream about playing Major League Baseball, that's why I didn't pursue it. But if I dreamed to play Major League Baseball when I was 20, that was a dream that I could pursue. Now that I'm 62, I it really is not a dream that I say I want to resurrect because at 62, my body is not capable. But if that was one of my dreams, then in the shifting, maybe now it's 62, I can't play Major League Baseball. But because of my love and passion, I can now coach. Because I have I have coached, I've coached some teams and actually won uh won some some some championships as a coach. But now I can coach and pour that passion for baseball into some younger people who may then be able to uh matriculate and make their way up into the major league. So you see how sometimes dreams may shift, but the principle and core value of our dream is doing that which is passionate that God has in us, but then ultimately I believe that will be a blessing to somebody else.

SPEAKER_06 15:01

Yeah, and you know that is a great, you know, distinction because not every old dream comes back in the same form. That's what you were talking about about, but the purpose behind it may still be very much alive, right? And I love that baseball analogy. You mentioned age, so let's talk about age. Some people listening right now, whether in your congregation or on the airwaves and tuning into the senior zone, they may be 60, 70, 80 years old and thinking, my time has passed. What would you say to that person who feels they've missed their window?

SPEAKER_08 15:37

Man, Sean, in the opening of this book, I say, It's never too late and you're never too old. That's one of the lines in there. And because I just look at the way God does us, because as long as God is giving you breath, the one thing I pray uh when I'm praying, I say, God, I thank you for waking me up. And when you woke me up, that was my indicator that I have purpose in this day. Every day we wake up, that means God has plans and purposes for us in this day. And so I really don't care how old we may be, because the culture often measures life by age, but God measures life by purpose. And so we can't allow this culture to dictate to us. And when you look at scripture, you know, I'm a preacher, forgive me for, but look at scripture. Abraham was 75 when God called him to leave his homeland and go to a land that I will show you. Moses was 80 when he stood before Pharaoh and told him, Let my people go. Uh Caleb, Caleb was 85 years old when he said to Moses, he said, Give me this mountain. And so it happened. These are biblical figures, but we can go into the natural. Colonel Sanders was an old man when he started KFC. I mean, so I can we can go example after example because you're never too old to pursue the passion and purpose that God has placed in you.

SPEAKER_06 17:07

Uh I'm I'm gonna go a little uh less formal than I typically do, uh Pastor Moore, and say, man, you hit it right on the head. I love it because right here on the Cena Zone, uh Pastor Moore, we just believe, I believe, that later life is not a waiting room, right? There's still work to do, there's still love to give, there's still wisdom to share and purpose that we can still walk in to. With all of that being said, uh Pastor Moore, you know, dreams can be exciting, right? But they can also be scary, especially if somebody tried before and they failed, or if people laughed at them, uh dismissed them, or just told them to be more realistic. How would you, or what would you say to someone, you know, in terms of moving past their fear of trying again?

SPEAKER_08 17:54

My, I would remind them that failure is an event. It's not an identity. One unsuccessful attempt does not define the rest of our lives. As a matter of fact, if you talk to anyone that is successful in life, they will tell you that they have failed multiple times. I'll never forget, I was um at a John Maxwell event years ago, and he talked about failing forward. Uh, some of the best experiences in our lives are the quote unquote failures. Because if you learn from the failures, it gives you the wisdom to for the success in life. And so I understand sometimes it can be scary sometimes, but once again, I'm gonna I'm gonna fall back on my preacher voice because God has not given us the spirit of fear, uh, but the spirit of love, power, and a sound mind. And what we have to do is learn from the mistakes because all of us have failed somewhere and somehow. But what we can't, we cannot allow someone else's unbelief, someone else's insecurity or someone else's perspective to become the ceiling for our future. Yeah, we got to move forward in that.

SPEAKER_06 19:10

Absolutely. And fear is powerful, right? It it is a tug on a lot of people. But here's what I learned, uh, Pastor Moore, in my life. And I walked in fear a lot of times for many years and let it consume me at times. But here's what I realized now that I have perspective in life. None of the fears that I have ever had, not one single one has ever materialized or realized in the form that I had it in my head, right? So if I thought the worst, worst case scenario was a 10, none of my fears reached two or three, right? And so, but that's something that we do. So I want you to keep your pastor hat on, right? Take off your author hat right now for a second, because you are a pastor and faith is clearly part of your message and who you are. But for the person out there who is spiritually tired, discouraged, or even disappointed with God, how do they begin dreaming again from that honest place? Wow.

SPEAKER_08 20:07

Uh, the first step is honesty uh because God is never intimidated by our questions or our pain. That's the first step is people think that God um looks at us and says, Oh, you can never be scared, you can never be angry with him, you can never be disappointed with life. Um but some of the greatest prayers in scripture began with disappointment. Uh if you look at David, David asks, How long, oh Lord, uh Jeremiah, Jeremiah wrestled with discouragement. Elijah wanted to give up, he wanted, he wanted to quit. Why? Because the weight and the pressure of life was so heavy on him. And uh that was Elijah, but on all of them, life can can do some real uh damage to us. Life can be heavy, but the first step is honesty, and then I would encourage people uh not to pretend that everything's fine, go to God with your disappointment, uh, because healing begins where honesty begins. And we can never ever, we can never ever conquer anything that we won't confront. And so if we start there, then what happens is we can, and this is for anybody, those that believe in the God I serve, or those that believe in how higher power, or those that just really believe in self-empowerment. You must first start with that honest moment. Be honest with where you are and what you feel, and then be honest with why you feel the way you feel. There oftentimes because of life, we tend to uh really shift it and blame it on God. But sometimes it's just life doing what life does. Sometimes it's decisions we make. But start with in that place of honesty, be honest with yourself, and as you work through from that honest perspective, you really Really see that it wasn't as bad or as uh challenging as it seemed. As you said, you know, that fear factor where you put, we multiply, we make it terrible. But when we start in the honest place, I believe that's the beginning. And you watch that, uh, you'll be able to work through from that place of honesty because healing will begin with the honest place. Uh and then, you know, if you're and then if you're a part of the Christian faith, uh you realize that really God doesn't ask you to fake your faith, he invites you to bring him your brokenness, and he is the mender of broken pieces. That's who he is. And he does that, that's that's the that's that's the the the pastor that pastor perspective that I have. And you know, I can't separate the two two too much.

SPEAKER_06 22:48

You got me thinking right now of Luke 15, and I'm not a scripture quoting person, but I think I'm I'm right there when I think of Luke uh 15, my friend. But that's the answer that we needed to hear, I believe, uh Pastor Moore. Uh, real quick, because we are nearly out of time, my friend. What practical first step can someone take this week, not next year, uh, not when everything is perfect, but this week to begin resurrecting a dream?

SPEAKER_08 23:13

Wow, that is so uh such a powerful question. Uh, because I always tell people that dreams are usually built through small steps. We tend to think that dream, boom, we just hit it, and tomorrow we're operating in our dream. But every uh dream is built with small steps. Uh what's the saying? The the journey of a thousand miles start with one step at a time. Uh or you can use the whole analogy, how do you eat an elephant one bite at a time? All those, all those are applicable. So when you're looking at practical steps, something we can do like today, the first thing we have to do is remember the dream. Write it down again. Um, go back and really uh just just meditate on it, spend some time and remember the dream and pinpoint, you know, pinpoint what it is that your purpose and passion is. That's the first thing. And you can do that even while you're listening to the radio, while you're uh driving in your car. Just say, man, okay, I remember. The second thing I would say is reconnect uh through prayer, meditation, uh, spend some quiet time. If you're a Christian, ask God, say, God, is this dream still a part of my plan and purpose for my life? Um, if you're not a Christian, uh just spend and meditate and connect and say, Hey, is this still a part of the plan and purpose for my life? Third thing I would say is take one small action immediately. Uh make a phone call, enroll in the class, volunteer, um, uh begin writing some things, reach out to a mentor, uh, visit a business and ask, I mean, just do something, a small step that will lead to bigger steps. And then finally, I would recommend that you surround yourself with people who believe in the same thing that God placed inside of you or the same thing that your dream is uh uh pushing you toward. Find people that have been where you're going or that are going in the same direction because I believe dreams need to be planted in the proper soil. You know, I really could have, Brother Sean said, you know, what's the first practical step is get the book. That's what I could have said.

SPEAKER_06 25:30

I just thought about it as I'm going through. We're gonna get to that in a in a quick second. But what you said, I mean, is is is is good, it's great, right? Because sometimes we make purpose too big and mysterious, right? In my uh humble opinion. But a phone call, a notebook, a class, a conversation, or just one act of courage can start moving, you know, that thing again that's inside of you. And that's what we really, really want to do uh here today with this conversation, get people moving again and towards their purpose and passion. Uh for older adults, Pastor Moore, who may not want to start over, right? But they do want to finish well. How can resurrecting a dream be less about chasing success and more about living with meaning?

SPEAKER_08 26:17

Man, I love that question. I appreciate you asking because one of the biggest misconceptions about dreams is that they're always about achievement. I really don't believe that dreams are primarily about achievement. I believe, especially as we mature, that our definition of definition of success often changes. And so what I believe we should look at is not what I can accomplish, but who can I help? What is the legacy that I am going to leave behind? And so finishing well to me means living every remaining day with intentionality. And a part of that intentionality is generosity and purpose. And so I think the greatest dream you can fulfill, it may not be the one that makes you successful, but it may be the one that makes someone else successful. That's legacy, and that's what we should be really pressing toward.

SPEAKER_06 27:12

Yeah, absolutely. And that is such a beautiful way uh to frame it up, Pastor Moore. I just don't want folks to leave their dreams and their gift in the ground or before it's all said and done for them, right? We get one crack at this thing called life, and I want them to maximize it each and every day. My last question for you, uh my friend, as we close, speak directly to that person out there, the Miss Hattie Mays out there, the Mr. Jimmy Jones is of the world out there. Speak to them right now, you know, you know, and to those that know what their dream was, but they've been afraid or even, you know, just too afraid to even say it out loud. What do you want them to know?

SPEAKER_08 27:54

Wow, wow. Let me let me yeah, let me speak to uh Miss Hattie Mays and Mr. Joe. I would say this this is really, I'm gonna say this in one uh sentence, is that your past may explain where you've been, but it does not have to determine where you're going. So if God is still writing your story, if he has still blessed you with breath in your body, then don't let fear write your final chapter. It's time for you to resurrect your dream.

SPEAKER_06 28:24

Absolutely, absolutely. And now, my official, officially, my last question: where can folks find your book, Resurrecting Your Dream?

SPEAKER_08 28:32

Man, they can find the book. Actually, the book is on every platform. It's on Amazon, it's on Ken, I mean Amazon, it's on Books a Million, it's on Um Barnes and Noble. I would prefer if you would go to www.resurrectyourdream.com. W.resurrect R E S U R R E C T Y O U R D R E A M, Resurrect Your Dream.com. Reason being, if they go to resurrectyourdream.com, all those other platforms don't take all their fees out and all that stuff. So you can get it at resurrectyourdream.com. But if you forget that, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books a Million. You can get it on there. They have e-copies. The uh you can get the uh the e-copy and download it, the digital copy, or you can get the physical book copy and have it sent directly to you.

SPEAKER_06 29:28

There you go, folks. Resurrectyourdream.com. Get the book there, resurrectyourdream.com. Pastor Scott Moore, thank you. I mean, thank you for joining us here today on the Senior Zone. And family, I hope you heard that clearly. That buried does not mean dead. Delayed does not mean denied, and older does not mean over. Some of you have a dream that has been sitting quietly in the back room of your heart for years now. Maybe this conversation is your reminder to open that door once again, not all at once, not recklessly, not with pressure, but with faith, wisdom, and one brave step at a time. Pastor Scott Moore's book is Resurrecting Your Dream. Everyone had a dream. What happened to yours? You can find it again on resurrectingyourdream.com. And if today's conversation stirred something in you, don't ignore it. Write it down, pray on it, talk to somebody, just take that next step because your dream may not be dead. It may just be waiting for you to believe in it again. Pastor Scott Moore, thank you again, my friend. God bless you. I appreciate you, Brother Sean. Thank you. You're quite welcome. You're quite welcome. And folks, that's it. This next break is brought to you by Compassion and Choices, empowering everyone to chart their own end of life journey.

SPEAKER_11 30:48

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Colorectal Cancer Screening with Dr. Eric Wargotz

SPEAKER_06 33:22

Welcome back, family. You know, colorectal cancer remains a serious concern for older adults, but it is one of the cancers that can often be detected early and sometimes prevented altogether through proper screening, of course. Still, many people delay getting screened because of fear, embarrassment, confusion, or simply believing they feel fine. Joining us now to help clear up some of that confusion is Dr. Eric Wargotts, president of Med Chi, the Maryland State Medical Society, and a longtime pathologist and medical educator. Dr. Wargotts, welcome to the Senior Zone.

SPEAKER_07 34:01

Mr. Perry, it's a delight to be here with you and your listeners this morning. And I thank you for the opportunity to educate the public to offer what I have to say to you and to them, and hopefully uh impact their lives in, of course, a positive way.

SPEAKER_06 34:19

Well, it's a pleasure to have you here. So let's just jump right into it, Dr. Walgott. How has colorectal cancer impacted, say, the senior community? And why does the risk tend to increase as we get older?

SPEAKER_07 34:32

Well, the colorectal colorectal cancer, if people let me give a little background. With colorectal cancer, we're talking about anything that's from the start of the colon, which I know most of you are not uh anatomists or doctors, but it's you've got your colon, which is your large intestine, and you go and it progresses down to a segment called the rectum, and then you expel your waist, your stool, your poop, number two, through your anus. So any colorectal cancer refers to cancers that develop anywhere from the anal opening all the way into your body where it meets the small intestine, about midway in your belly, um, yeah, just below your rib cage, where your small intestine becomes your large intestine. And so it's it's a real problem because it is a it remains a leading cause of death in older Americans. It's the second most common cause of cancer death nationwide. And in my practice as a pathologist, I see how aging naturally increases this statistical risk. And the tragedy is that many of these advanced cases could have been prevented entirely if they had been caught early through routine public uh health screenings, and that's the key. If you don't get screened, you're not gonna know, probably until it's too late or a great risk towards your life.

SPEAKER_06 36:05

And that's a good segue that leads me into my next question, uh, Dr. Wargottes. Despite clear screening guidelines, many older adults, Americans are still not up to date. What are the biggest barriers keeping people from getting screened?

SPEAKER_07 36:18

Well, I'll I'll tell you, in in urban areas, the two most significant hurdles are fear and misinformation. But in the rural areas, there's a third one that's very important, and that's access. And access can be very difficult in the rural area. So the gold standard for screening is a colonoscopy, and I think every one of your listeners has heard that term if if not if they haven't already had one or two by now. But if you're in a rural community, and maybe some of your listeners have had this challenge, you have a long distance to go to get to a center or a hospital to have that procedure done. And that can be very difficult if you no longer drive or you don't trust yourself driving, you don't have somebody to drive you. Um normally you have to have someone drive with you anyway, even if you drive there, you're woozy when you finish, so you have to have someone drive you home. So access is a real problem in our rural areas. So it's really those three things. There's fear, fear that uh that you will have something discovered that's that's scary, like cancer. So people just want to ignore it in their life. Misinformation about, you know, there, you know, the size of the instrument, where it's going, uh, complications that can occur. Uh so people have a lot of fear. And then there's the personal issue that falls into fear and misinformation. A lot of folks feel, well, that's that's a part of my body I don't want anyone fooling with. And they're afraid to be exposed down there, and the other wondering how many people are gonna see them, and that sort of thing. So, how do we dispel these fears? Well, we have to talk about them.

SPEAKER_06 38:14

Yeah, and I I like to put my business out there to my listeners, Dr. Walgott's. I have had two colonoscopies. Uh, you're you're you're uh you're put under, so you don't even know what's happening, but I would rather know the risk far out what outweighs the fear and discomfort uh that many uh fe you know may be experiencing. I understand it, but you know, early detection is the key, and that leads me into this question: why is early detection still one of the most effective tools that we have in the fight against colorectal cancer?

SPEAKER_07 38:45

So when we identify colorectal cancer early, the five-year survival in cancer uh medicine we speak in terms of five and ten year survivals. So when we identify colorectal cancer early, the five-year survival it exceeds 90%. Even better when you do the colonoscopy, it allows us to find and remove precancerous polyps. These are growths in your in your colon or your rectum, which are a little out pouching. They look like peas or they can be larger. They certainly can grow into the size of a plum. And that's when it's more dangerous. So when they're real small and you see them in a colonoscopy, your gastroenterologist, your your GI doctor can pluck those out, send them to the pathology lab where folks like me and my colleagues can tell whether that's cancerous or not, or precancerous. Precancerous is something that isn't cancer yet, but if you leave it in there longer, if it wasn't removed, it very likely would become cancer. So what's those are visual screenings? But there's also early detection using blood tests, so we can get into that. I'm sorry, Mr. Perry.

SPEAKER_06 40:02

You know my script, uh, Dr. Wargottes, because I was going to talk about newer technologies that I've heard about, including blood-based cancer uh tests becoming more available. I know nothing about those tests, so I'm gonna learn here as well. How are these innovations changing the way we approach early detection?

SPEAKER_07 40:18

Well, I'll tell you, I'm just really impressed that you're aware of them because a lot of people aren't. And that's that's fabulous, uh Sean. I am just I'm very glad and grateful that you're aware of those. The so there are new, there are new technologies like blood tests, as well as other types of CT scans and things like that. But right now we're gonna focus on we've we've talked a little about colonoscopy, where a thin narrow tube is placed in your anus, you're under anesthesia, you don't feel a thing, and it slides all the way up into where your large intestine joins your small intestine, and then they back out with a camera, and they can see everything. So it's really important. They can see 360 degrees because your colon is a tube, right? And they're looking for little polyps and abnormalities to remove or biopsy and send to the lab to make sure you stay healthy. So let's move on to those blood tests. So the blood tests are really useful for people 45 and older without any increased risk of cancer. That's what they're approved for. Before we even get into their names and what you should mention when you see your doctor, is these blood tests are approved, listen to me again, for anyone 45 years old and older with no increased risk based on a family history, a personal history, or any type of inflammatory bowel disease like Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. If none of those conditions or situations apply to you and you don't want to do a colonoscopy because of access, fear, misinformation, you do have a backup. Just remember colonoscopy is the number one choice. That is the best test for detecting early cancer. But if for any of those other reasons I just mentioned, those three reasons, that you don't have a ride, you can't get there, and or you're you're scared, or you just have other information that makes you nervous, then there is a blood test you can get right in your doctor's office, or they'll send you to a quest to a to an outside lab, a lab station. And these tests are two that are approved by the FDA. One is the SHIELD test by Garden Health. If you need to write these down or come back to the show, it's called the SHIELD Test. And that was the first one that was approved by FDA. And then there's called the Simple Screen C R C that's uh colorectal cancer. So it's SHIELD, S-H-I-E-L-D, and the Simple Screen, S-I-M-P-L-E-S-C-R-E-E-N. And you can ask your doctor about those if you, for some reason, maybe have a medical condition you're worried about, you don't want to be put under. But some screening is better than no screening. These are excellent alternatives for patients who refuse other methods because any screening test is better than no test at all. These are highly specific but not as sensitive. Let me break those two words down for you really quickly. These do not always detect if you have a pre-mal pre-cancer or an actual cancer. They will not always uh detect it compared to a colonoscopy. Um but when it does detect an abnormality, it is something to be concerned about, and then it will require further testing. So, again, some screening is better than no screening. Very important to understand.

SPEAKER_06 44:00

Yeah, absolutely. I'd rather you get the blood test if you qualify 45 and no uh risk factors associated with one's uh health than not get it at all. But folks, colonoscopy, as Dr. Wargottes mentioned, is the gold standard. So get it uh if and when and where uh you uh certainly uh can. You know, you mentioned the blood test, and I want to stay on that for a second. And I think you talked about limitations, but I want to make it make it clearer in layman's terms. If folks do decide to go the blood test route if they qualify, what are again uh the limitations to these blood tests?

SPEAKER_07 44:38

The limitations is so in medicine before tests are approved, they're always compared to the gold standard. So that's one of the criteria that are used by the FDA in things we call clinical trials. I don't want to get too deep in the in the weeds there. But so when you're looking at a blood test, you're looking at how does it match up in terms of detecting cancer compared to the colonoscopy. So when the studies were done, they're about 80, 82, 85 percent they they match. But because with the colonoscopy you can detect over 90 percent, you're missing you know, maybe seven to ten percent uh that you would c that you would catch with colonoscopy. But again, one some one a test is better than no test. Does that answer the question?

SPEAKER_06 45:32

Absolutely, absolutely. Dr. Wargott, we are nearly out of uh time, my new friend. My last question for you about 30 seconds or so. What conversation should our older adults have with their primary care provider around colorectal cancer screening? What is your message to someone who has been putting it off?

SPEAKER_07 45:50

All right, it's and we'll finish up. Tell your primary care doctor, your physician, that you want to review your current colorectal screening choices. Your doctor will help determine if you fit the narrow FDA criteria for an average risk blood draw like shield or simple screen, or if you require a gold standard visual test. If you've been delaying it out of fear, please know that modern options are much more patient-friendly than they used to be. Do not wait for symptoms to appear because the best test is simply the one that gets completed. And that's what I'd like to leave with you and your listeners. And thank you so much, Sean, for having me on today. Have a great day, everybody.

SPEAKER_06 46:32

You are quite welcome. Family, putting it off does not make the risk go away. Get tested. Dr. Wargott, thank you for helping us better understand colorectal cancer screening and why early detection matters. Family, the message is simple: do not wait until you experience symptoms before taking any action. Speak with your healthcare provider. Ask which screening option is appropriate for you, and then follow through. That appointment, that test, that conversation could protect your health and possibly save your life. Dr. Eric Walgott's president of MedCHI, the Maryland State Medical Society. Thank you, thank you, thank you for joining us here on the Senior Zone, my new friend.

SPEAKER_07 47:15

Thank you.

SPEAKER_06 47:16

All right. Folks, this next break is brought to you by AARP DC, your wise friend and fierce defender in Washington, D.C. When we return, it's birthdays of the week, followed by Dear Grave Woman, and then it's your later life lowdown, news, resources, and events that you can use. We'll be right back.

SPEAKER_11 47:34

Today is your day to connect with AARP and DC. AARP is here in the District of Columbia working hard to make it an even better place to live, work, and play for people of all ages, and you can help. Put your skills and talents to good use as an AARP volunteer where you can help lead local events or become an advocate for the issues that matter in your community, like funding for programs that help district residents age with dignity and independence. AARP is also helping you get the most out of life. Check out their educational workshops where they can help you grow as a caregiver, find a job, and teach you about the latest technology, or enjoy the night out at any of their exciting local events, like their happy hours and free movie screenings. Today is your day to connect with your community and with AARP. So let's take on today and every day. Learn more at aarp.org slash DC.

SPEAKER_04 48:32

Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday!

Birthdays of the Week

SPEAKER_06 49:19

So let's get the celebration started. First up, we have Dorothea Newby, 72 today, Monday, August 10th from Washington, D.C. Happy birthday, Dorothea. Gloria Ivy Crow, a crowd is 69 today as well. August 10th, also from Washington, D.C. Happy birthday, Gloria. Jacqueline Lindsay, 74 today as well. August 10th from Temple Hills, Maryland. Happy birthday, Jacqueline. Robert Anthony Curtis, 54. I believe he's the baby of the bunch. 54. Tomorrow, Tuesday, August 11th from Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Happy birthday, Robert. Eleanor Haran, haven't seen you in a while. Turns 82 on Thursday, August 13th from Washington, D.C. Happy birthday, Eleanor. Jay Powell, 69. Thursday, August 13th from Bowie, Maryland. Happy, happy birthday, Jay. Donovan Morrison, a military friend here. Haven't seen him in a while as well. Doing well. Turns 75 on Saturday, August 15th from Baltimore, Maryland. Happy birthday, Donovan. Edwina Royster, 62. Social Security eligible on Saturday, August 15th from Washington, D.C. Happy birthday, Edwina. A few more here. We have Brenda Denson White is 77 on Saturday, August 15th from College Park, Maryland. Happy birthday, Brenda. And last but not least, Sherry McGee, 72 on Sunday, August 16th from Tom's River, New Jersey. Happy birthday, Sherry, and happy birthday to each and every one of you again. May your special day bring you good health, plenty of love, a whole lot of laughter, and another beautiful memory to add to your life's journey.

Dear Grave Woman

SPEAKER_06 51:05

And family, celebrating another year of life also gives us an opportunity to pause, reflect, and perhaps see something from a different perspective. So let's turn now to this week's edition of Dear Grave Woman featuring Joelle Simone. Joelle, the mic is yours.

SPEAKER_00 51:23

Hello everyone, and welcome back to Dear Grave Woman, your three-minute segment here on the Senior Zone, where I, your host, Joelle Simone, known all over the world as the Grave Woman, answer your questions about life, death, grief, pre-planning for the end, and everything in between. We are in the second week of National Black Business Month, and I wanted to take today's episode and dedicate it to the unsung heroes of black-owned funeral businesses, particularly the funeral home. Now, when someone passes away, people normally think about the funeral director, they think about the embalmer, but beyond that, I don't think a lot of people know about the people behind the scenes that support us as practitioners and professionals who are operating in a completely different professional role that keep the funeral home and end-of-life business going. And so, number one is gonna be office managers. These are multitasking geniuses and the operational heartbeat of the funeral home. Office managers hold everything together at once. They are coordinating services, answering uh family questions, meeting families sometimes to make arrangements, um, answering family questions, managing logistics, and handling the paperwork and tracking the details. Number two is going to be removal teams. And so removal professionals are oftentimes the first physical presence a family or community encounters after a death. They respond with urgency, respect, and emotional steadiness arriving in moments where shock, grief, disbelief, and just overall emotion are still very fresh, and they do so with deep professionalism, and they bring loved ones into the care of the funeral home, ensuring that every transfer is handled with dignity, discretion, and cultural sensitivity. Number three is going to be administrative support. And so funeral home administrative staff are often the quiet strength behind the scenes. They manage records, arrangements, death certificates, payments, and countless other details that must be handled with accuracy and sensitivity. Number four is going to be our burial and cemetery vault teams or cemetery and vault teams. Whether it's raining, snowing, hailing, or storming, these hardworking professionals ensure that the final resting places of the deceased are prepared with dignity, precision, and respect for the sacredness of burial. And last but not least on my list are maintenance teams. Now, mortuary maintenance staff preserve the environment where families and communities gather to mourn, reflect, and celebrate uh life. They ensure that chapels and viewing rooms and grounds and vehicles remain clean, safe, and welcoming. And while many times the funeral director may be the person operating in this role, especially at small firms, I do want to take the time to say thank you to these unsung heroes that I've worked with professionally and that many of you in the deathcare industry can attest to as well. Thank you for your service, Sean. Back to you for the later life lowdown.

SPEAKER_06 54:40

Our

Later Life Lowdown

SPEAKER_06 54:41

thanks as always to Joelle Simone for another thoughtful edition of Dear Grave Woman. Good advice right there, family. Now, before we leave you today, let's make sure you know about a few programs, resources, and opportunities available throughout the DMV. It's now time for this week's Later Life Lowdown. In Washington, D.C., the DC Department of Aging and Community Living operates senior wellness centers throughout the district, offering fitness activities, group lunches, computer access, educational programs, and opportunities to meet new people. To find the Senior Wellness Center serving your community and learn what programs are available, call the DC Department of Aging and Community Living at 202-724-5626. That's 202-724-5626. In Maryland, Maryland is age 60 and older can receive a free daily automated telephone call or text message at a time that they select. The program also offers an optional weekly call from a live representative, providing additional conversation and social connection. For more information or enrollment, call 866-502-0560. That's 866-502-0560. And in Northern Virginia, we didn't forget about you. Registration remains open for the 2026 Northern Virginia Senior Olympics, taking place this September 9th through October 4th. Adults aged 50 and older, they can participate in more than 70 events, including swimming, golf, pickleball, bowling, track and field, and new activities such as rock climbing, weightlifting, and darts. Registration closes August 24th. The registration fee is $20 and allows participants to enter an unlimited number of events. Just visit nvso.us. That's nvso.us for complete information. And folks, no matter where you live, remember this website, benefitscheckup.org. That's benefitscheckup.org. This is a free online resource that helps older adults and people with disabilities identify programs that may help with things such as food, health care, prescriptions, utilities, and other everyday expenses. Once again, that website is benefitscheckup.org.

Final Thoughts and Closing

SPEAKER_06 57:21

And folks, the pencil broke, that is all she wrote. That's this week's Later Life Lowdown helping you stay informed, connected, and aware of the resources available throughout our community. Well, family, that brings us to the end of another edition of the Senior Zone. I want to thank our guests today for sharing their time and knowledge with us. And as always, I want to thank each of you for listening, supporting, and continuing to grow with the Senior Zone. And one more thing, one last thing. The Senior Zone has always been about more than a moment. It's about creating conversations that continue informing, encouraging, and inspiring us long after the radio show ends. That is why we are now available as a podcast so these conversations they can live on, they can be revisited and shared. Just search the senior zone with Sean Perry wherever you listen to podcasts. Be sure to join us again next Monday from 10 to 11 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. So, folks, until we meet again, keep your head high, keep your heart full, and always be someone who makes someone else look forward to their tomorrow. Love you. Peace.

SPEAKER_10 58:31

Be sure to join us on our next broadcast.

SPEAKER_01 58:34

Until then, live simply, love generously. Speak kindly.

SPEAKER_10 58:39

Leave the rest to God. Have a wonderful week, and God willing, the senior zone will be here for another informative and entertaining hour next Monday morning at 10 a.m.