Episode #33
What Does Longevity Really Mean in Your 70s and 80s?
Send us FAN MAIL text, include your cell# for a reply Host Mike Roth opens Season 8 of Villages Vitality: Senior Life Unscripted with guests Mike Summers and Jim Mahoney, two blood cancer survivors, discussing diagnosis, treatment, recovery, and what it takes to live well while aging. Summers was diagnosed with leukemia at 73 after a severe hematoma and two-week hospitalization, then faced major recovery challenges and fear over an $18,000/month drug until finding the same medication for $35/month via Cost Plus Drugs. Mahoney, diagnosed at 83 after years of monitoring smoldering myeloma, describes infusion and pill regimens largely covered by his insurance, staying highly active through competitive softball and gym training, and later receiving immunotherapy after melanoma surgery. Together they explore resilience, diminished physical capacity, purpose, caregiving, long-term goals, and their book, The Long Season, aimed at helping patients and families. Chapters 00:00 Season 8 kickoff & show mission 01:05 Meet today’s guests: Mike Summers & Jim Mahoney 02:10 Why this episode: blood cancer survival, aging, resilience 03:05 Mike Summers’ diagnosis at 73 and where he is now 05:10 Jim Mahoney’s path: smoldering myeloma to diagnosis at 83 07:00 Mike’s crisis: hematoma, hospital stay, and leukemia discovery 10:10 Initial leukemia treatment and stabilizing in the hospital 12:05 Jim’s “no symptoms” mindset and deciding to see oncology 14:40 Cancer types, modern therapies, and early reassurance 17:10 The shocking cost of treatment—and the Cost Plus Drugs solution 21:30 Jim’s infusion + Revlimid regimen and how his coverage worked 24:40 Making the extra years “good years”: fitness, softball, and recovery work Villages Vitality Listeners, I've got some good news for you. In season 8 most new episodes will released as both audio & video versions. Videos on Apple Podcasts, Busssprout.com and YouTube. If you're listening via our Buzzsprout feed, you can ask questions via the Fan Mail button or leave me comments as a text or in our new feature, you can send it as a voicemail. If you'd like a response, make sure you leave your name, email address and cell phone number. Support the show Villages Vitality Senior Life Unscripted is Produced & Directed by Mike Roth A new episode will be released most Fridays at 9 AM Direct all questions and comments to mike@rothvoice.com If you know a someone who should appear on the show, please contact us at: mike@rothvoice.com
