Mountain Views News          Saturday, March 28, 2015

11

THE GOOD LIFE

Mountain Views-News Saturday, March 28, 2015

EASIER SCREENING TESTS FOR COLON CANCER

FYI: TIPS FOR STAYING HEALTHY IN YOUR 70S, 80S, 90S...

 Aging can be defined as: “progressive changes related to the passing of time.” While physiological 
changes that occur with age may prevent life in your 70s, 80s and beyond from being what it was in 
your younger years, there’s a lot you can do to improve your health and longevity and reduce your 
risk for physical and mental disability as you get older.

 Research shows that you’re likely to live an average of about 10 years longer than your parents—
and not only that, but you’re likely to live healthier longer too. According to the U.S. Department 
of Health and Human Services, 40.4 million Americans (about 13 percent) were 65 years of age or 
older in 2010 and by the year 2030, almost 20 percent of the total U.S. population will be 65+.

So how do you give yourself the best possible chance for a long, healthy life? Although you aren’t able 
to control every factor that affects health as you age, many are in your hands. Some keys to living a 
long, healthy life include:

 Make healthful lifestyle choices—don’t smoke, eat right, practice good hygiene, and reduce stress 
in your life

Have a positive outlook

Stay as active as possible—mentally and physically

Take safety precautions

See your health care provider regularly and follow his or her recommendations for screening 
and preventative measures

 One of the most important things you can do to stay healthy in your golden years is to maintain 
your sense of purpose by staying connected to people and things that matter to you. However, this 
isn’t always easy—especially in a society that all-too-often views older people as a burden.

 Visit your local senior center. Spend time with at least one person—a family member, friend or 
neighbor—every day. Volunteer in your community, attend a local event, join a club or take up a 
new hobby.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY! … March Birthdays

Clare Marquardt, Karen Blachly, Carla Duplex, Ella Guttman, Viky Tchatlian, Mary 
Cooper, Georgina “Snooky” Greger, Sun Liu, Helen Wallis, Joan Crow, Nancy Fox, Nan 
Carlton, Martha Cassara, Rita Johnson, Mercedes Campos, Dorothy Webster,Terri Elder, 
Carol Cerrina, Amy Putnam, Sally Contreras and Lori Cooper. * To add your name to 
this distinguished list, please call the paper at 626.355.2737. YEAR of birth not required but you 
must be over 60.

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ACTIVITIES: Unless listed differently, all activities are at the Hart Park 
House (Senior Center) 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre

 

 YMCA San Gabriel Valley Intervale Senior Café: Monday-Friday at 12:00 Noon 

(Participants are urged to arrive no later than 11:45 A.M.) 

All seniors 60 and up can take part in the lunch program. There is a suggested donation of $2.00 
for those 60 and over and $3.75 for non-senior guests. Daily reservations are necessary as space is 
limited. Please call 24 hours in advance...626.355.0256

Free Balance Class: Monday, March 16th 11:00 to 11:45am with Shannon Vandevelde. A variety of 
balance exercises are practiced; all ability levels are encouraged and welcomed.

TECH TALK: Held on Monday, March 9 and 23 from 1:30pm-2:30pm. Learn how to use your 
technology devises. Reserve your space by calling 355-7394.

HAWAIIAN AND POLYNESIAN DANCE CLASS: Every Tuesday morning from 10am to 11am. 
Join instructor Barbara Dempsey as she instructs you in the art of hula.

BINGO: Every Tuesday beginning at 1:00pm. Cards are only $0.25 each! Everyone is welcome to 
join. May be canceled if less than 5 people.

FREE BLOOD PRESSURE TESTING: 2nd Tuesday of the month from 11am to 12pm. No appt. 
is necessary.

BRAIN GAMES: Tuesday, March 17th, 11am -12pm, improve your memory and strengthen your 
brain. Activities facilitated by Swati Puri, Community Liaison for ComForcare Senior Services in 
Pasadena.

FREE LEGAL CONSULTATION: Wednesday, March 18 from 10:30am to Noon. Attorney Lem 
Makupson is available for legal consultation. He specializes in Family Law, Wills, Trusts, Estates, 
and Injury. Appointment are required by calling 626-355-7394.

CHAIR YOGA: Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:00 to 11:45 am, except on the third Monday of 
the month. A suggested donation of $5 at one of the classes is requested, but is not required.

CASE MANAGEMENT: Meets the 2nd Thursday of the month. Case Management services are 
provided by the YWCA and provide assistance in a variety of areas. Appointments are required and 
can be scheduled by calling the HPH Office at 626-355-7394.

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS: Every second Thursday of the month the Hart Park House Senior 
Center celebrates birthdays of our patrons. The free birthday cake is provided by the Sierra Madre 
Civic Club.

GAME DAY: Every Thursday starting at 12:45pm. A regular group of seniors play poker. Other 
games available for use.

TAX ASSISTANCE: Every Thursday February 5th through April 9th from 1:00pm-2:00pm. Don 
Brunner is available for income tax consultation. Appointments are required, call 626-355-7394.

FREE STRENGTH TRAINING CLASS: Every Friday from 12:45pm to 1:30pm with Lisa 
Brandley. The class utilizes light weights for low impact resistance training. All materials for the 
class are provided.

SENIOR CLUB: Every Saturday at the Hart Park House Senior Center. Brown bag lunch at 11:30am. 
Club meeting at noon. Bingo 12:30-3:30pm. Annual Membership is only $10.00.

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SENIOR HAPPENINGS


Dear Savvy Senior:

Are there any easier alternatives to a colonoscopy to 
check for colon cancer? I’m in my sixties and would 
like to be tested, but hate the idea of drinking all that 
laxative solution, and being sedated for the procedure. 

Squeamish Jim

Dear Jim:

It’s a great question. While a colonoscopy is considered 
the gold standard screening test for detecting colon 
cancer and is widely recommended once adults reach 
age 50, only about half of Americans who’ve passed 
that milestone ever get tested. 

 Why? Because most people, like yourself, dread the 
all-day laxative prep and sedation, not to mention the 
procedure itself. Fortunately, there are some easier 
alternatives, but be aware that if these tests uncover 
any suspicious results, you’ll still need to undergo a 
colonoscopy.

Take-Home Tests

 There are two different types of tests on the market 
today that you can take in the privacy of your own 
home that requires no laxative-taking/bowel-
cleansing preparation.

 The best option is the new FDA approved 
Cologuard test (see cologuardtest.com), which has 
a 92 sensitivity rate for detecting colon cancers. 
With this test you simply take a sample of a bowel 
movement, and mail it in to the lab for analysis. The 
lab looks for both blood and cancer-related DNA cells 
in your stool.

 The Cologuard test, which is recommended every 
three years, requires a prescription from your doctor, 
and costs $599 but is covered by Medicare and many 
private insurers.

 If, however, you find that the Cologuard test is 
not covered by your insurer, and you can’t afford 
or don’t want to pay the $599 fee, the other option 
is the fecal occult blood test (FOBT) or the fecal 
immunochemical test (FIT), which detects 74 percent 
colon cancers. 

 These tests, which are also provided by your doctor, 
check for traces of blood in the stool that could 
indicate cancer or large polyps that can develop into 
cancer, but they don’t look at the DNA. You simply 
send a stool sample to the lab. 

 Recommended annually, both of these fecal tests 
cost only around $25 and are covered by Medicare 
and most insurers.

Less Invasive Tests

 Two other tests to consider that are less invasive 
then a colonoscopy but more entailed than the 
take-home tests are the virtual colonoscopy and the 
sigmoidoscopy (both tests are recommended every 
five years). 

 A virtual colonoscopy uses a CT scan to view your 
colon instead of a scope in the rectum, so it’s a less 
invasive procedure than a traditional colonoscopy 
and doesn’t require sedation. But, it still requires the 
same bowel-cleansing prep. It’s also more expensive, 
typically costing between $400 and $800 and is not 
covered by Medicare or most insurers.

 A sigmoidoscopy exam, which is covered by 
Medicare and most insurers, uses a short, flexible 
scope inserted in the rectum like a colonoscopy to 
look at the lower colon only. This is a much faster and 
less involved procedure than a colonoscopy and one 
that doesn’t require sedation. You follow a clear liquid 
diet the day before the exam and take a laxative or 
enema the morning of.

Colon Cancer Numbers

 Colon cancer, which develops slowly over several 
years without causing symptoms especially in the 
early stages of the disease, is the second largest cancer 
killer in the U.S., killing around 50,000 Americans a 
year. 

 The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force – an 
independent panel of medical experts that advises the 
government on health policies – recommends colon 
cancer screening to all adults, ages 50 to 75. Earlier 
screenings are recommended to people who have an 
increased risk due to family history or other factors.

Experts believe that as many as 20,000 lives could be 
saved each year, if the screening rate went up to 90 or 
95 percent.

 

 Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. 
Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.
org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show 
and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

avvy


KATIE Tse..........This and That

WELCOME TO SENILITY!

“You know you’re old when --” 
How often have we received gift 
cards and forwarded emails 
with this tag line? The cartoon 
old woman with lavender hair 
saying something sassy is a 
familiar sight on T-shirts, mugs, 
mouse pads, and return address labels. We’ve all 
read stories of elderly people who’ve sent money 
to grandchildren, 
supposedly stranded in 
faraway lands, only to 
realize later that they 
were duped by hackers 
in Uzbekistan. 

 But I’m happy and 
grateful to God that 
my parents don’t fit any 
of these stereotypes. I 
often refer to them as 
“model retired people.” 
They’re healthier, 
happier, and busier 
than they ever were 
when I was growing 
up. Which is why what 
happened to them 
recently is so amusing.

 My mom just turned 
65. We’re sure that 
somewhere there’s 
a list of all the Baby 
Boomers’ birthdays 
available to every crook 
who wants to take a 
crack at fleecing them. The scam started when my 
mom answered the phone early one morning. “Hi, 
is this [Jane Doe] at 123 Sierra Madre Blvd?” the 
woman on the other end asked. “Yes,” my mom 
said. “I’m with [Scammer’s] Air Duct cleaning 
service, and I’m just calling to confirm your 
appointment today at 10:00.” “Uh, no. We didn’t 
order any air duct service here,” my mom replied. 
“Yes, you did! I have it here that you ordered a full 
inspection and cleaning service to be done today!” 
The woman was starting to get angry. Again my 
mom denied agreeing to the spurious duct work. 
“Well, you just better ask the people living at your 
home if they ordered anything!” Mom was ready 
to answer, “I am the people living at my home!” but 
by then my dad motioned for the phone.

 “Hello, who is this?” he asked. Dad has a great 
phone voice, very calming. But no amount of 
charm would work with this woman. Mom could 
hear her yelling at Dad 
for a while before he 
simply hung up the 
phone. The whole 
experience turned into 
something to laugh 
about, but it begs the 
question “How many 
people get tricked like 
this?”

 This is just another 
reason why, in these 
times of desperation 
and uncertainty, 
it’s best to eat right, 
exercise, and, most 
importantly, trust 
in Jesus for your 
salvation. What a 
tragedy it is to work 
so hard to build a 
good life on earth, but 
neglect the welfare of 
your eternal soul. I 
think it was C.S. Lewis 
who said something to 
the effect of, “Aim for the world, and you’ll get 
nothing. But aim for heaven, and you’ll get the 
world thrown in.” We need to get our priorities 
and perspective straight. This earth is not our 
home, but while we’re here, let’s humbly use the 
intelligence God has given us. There are many 
famous sayings that, although they are not 
Scripture, still have a lot of truth. So I’ll leave you 
with this nugget of wisdom: “In God we trust. All 
others pay cash.”


UPCOMING EXCURSIONS:


THE MUSEUM OF TOLERANCE (LOS ANGELES)

 Thursday, April 30, 2015 8:45am to 3:30pm

 Meeting Location: Hart Park House Senior Center

 Cost: $15 (Does not include lunch)

Opened in 1993, built at a cost of $50 million by the Simon Wiesenthal Center, named after Simon 
Wiesenthal, Holocaust Survivor. We’ll have a 3 hour docent-led tour of the Museum of Tolerance, 
a multimedia museum in Los Angeles designed to examine racism and prejudice around the world 
with a strong focus on the history of the Holocaust. Lunch will be on your own at Factor’s Deli, a 
landmark location for over 65 years. It’s a booth-lined Jewish delicatessen known for its matzo ball 
soup and corned beef on rye. Participants should bring money for lunch and souvenirs. Last day to 
register is April 22nd. Level of walking: Medium to high. For more information, please call the Hart 
Park House at 626-355-7394.

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SENIOR CINEMA • 1st and 3rd Wednesday

Shown at the Hart Park House Senior Center 

MARCH 18TH – HITCHCOCK (2012)

Following his great success with “North by Northwest,” director Alfred 
Hitchcock (Anthony Hopkins) makes a daring choice for his next project: 
an adaptation of Robert Bloch’s novel “Psycho.” When the studio refuses 
to back the picture, Hitchcock decides to pay for it himself in exchange 
for a percentage of the profits. Is wife, Alma Reville (Helen Mirren), has a 
serious reservations about the film but supports him nonetheless. Still, the 
production strains the couple’s marriage. With the film’s screening being 
so well received, Hitchcock thanks his wife afterward for helping make it 
possible and affirm their love. Rated PG-13, Start time: 1:00pm (run time 
98 minutes)