Mon, Sep 28, 2026 at 12:00 AM

Don’t stop breast cancer screening because of age, OB/Gyn warned seniors

It’s not hard to find bad news about breast cancer. It is the most common cancer among women, excluding skin cancer, responsible for nearly 1 in 3 cancers diagnosed in American women.

It’s the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in women in the U.S. after lung cancer. But there is also good news - death rates have been steadily going down since 1990.

That was part of the message delivered by Dr. Holly Kiper, DO, to GoldCare55+ members at their September Lunch N’ learn. She joined Medical Centers OB/GYN at Marshall North one year ago.

“Everybody in this room probably knows someone personally affected by breast cancer or has been personally affected by breast cancer,” Dr. Kiper said. “It’s very prevalent. But thanks to screening and early detection, deaths have been going down since the 90s, which is excellent.”

Dr. Kiper is from Satsuma, a small town just outside of Mobile. She earned her undergraduate degree at the University of South Alabama. After moving to Dothan for medical school at the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine, she had the opportunity to do her clinical rotations in Guntersville — and fell in love with the community.

She encouraged women to keep up their yearly scans no matter their age. Breast cancer rates slightly increase with age.

“Can you still get breast cancer over 75? One hundred percent. It’s still very important to screen.”

For women of all ages, screenings have made a drastic difference in the fight.

• Breast cancer mortality rate in U.S. women declined 44 percent from 1989 to 2023 (most recent data available)
• The decline in mortality rates over time is due to improved breast cancer treatment and early detection
• Since 1989, about 517,900 breast cancer deaths in U.S. women have been avoided
• The breast cancer mortality rate in women decreased by 1.5% per year from 2019 to 2023

The GoldCare55+ program is sponsored by Marshall Medical Centers to promote a healthy lifestyle for seniors in Marshall County. Membership applications are available at hospitals. For more information on Lunch N’ Learns or travel, call (256)571-8025.