Posted on October 22, 2026
Diligence is often rewarded, and few things demonstrate that more clearly than diligence with one’s health.
Kay Valentine has always been proactive about her health. She routinely saw longtime South Central Family Medicine physician, Jack C. Evans, MD, who ensured she was following all appropriate medical protocols. Kay always received her mammograms year after year, walking away each time with clear scans. As she grew older, however, she began to question whether those annual screenings were still necessary, especially after years of normal exams. After turning 70, she became a little less consistent with her mammograms.
It is a common misconception that women can discontinue routine breast cancer screenings later in life, especially if they have never had an abnormal result. Research indicates, however, that age remains one of the greatest risk factors for breast cancer, and diagnoses are most common among older women.
According to 2026 data from the Susan G. Komen website, “The older a woman is, the more likely she is to get breast cancer. Rates of breast cancer are low in women under 40. About 4% of women diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S. are younger than 40. Rates begin to increase after age 40 and are highest in women over age 70.”
Since her last mammogram, Kay had also begun experiencing nerve pain in her breast, making the imaging process increasingly uncomfortable. Recognizing the challenge, Dr. Jack Evans recommended a breast MRI as an alternative screening method. This solution got Kay back on track with receiving routine monitoring, which ultimately saved her life. When Kay underwent a breast MRI in late summer of 2024, they discovered a malignant mass in her breast.
“In September, I went to see Dr. Kevin Ivey, and he did a lumpectomy,” Kay said. “He removed the mass in its entirety, and I really did not have to do much more after that, apart from taking a pill. I understood that it was still very important for me to continue to get my scheduled breast MRI, and I did.”
A year later, Kay went for her routine breast scan and was informed that there was another lump in her breast. She returned to South Central General Surgery confident that Dr. Ivey would take good care of her as she walked through this process for the second time.
“My second go-around was a little more involved,” Kay said. “Dr. Ivey did the surgery and removed the mass, but he informed me that this was a different type of cancer. He said that I would need to establish care with an oncologist and that I would likely need some type of cancer treatment.”
Once Kay had recovered from surgery, she moved into the next phase of her treatment plan, receiving Herceptin, a targeted infusion therapy, every three weeks. This treatment has been ongoing for a little over a year, with treatments scheduled to end in December.
“I have only good things to say about South Central General Surgery,” Kay said. “I used them years ago for outpatient surgery, but over the past two years they have really impressed me. Everyone in the clinic is good at what they do, and they do it with kindness and compassion.”
Kay hopes her experience serves as a reminder to other women not to put off recommended breast cancer screenings, regardless of their age.
“Even though I had always had clear mammograms, I learned that things can change,” Kay said. “I’m thankful we found it when we did, and I would encourage other women to stay on top of their screenings, know their breast density and talk with their doctor about what testing is right for them.”
Schedule your mammogram appointment today by calling your OBGYN or primary care physician.