LAGOS, Nigeria / AfricaWire.IO / – According to a study highlighted by St. George’s University, more than 20% of women diagnosed with breast cancer in five sub-Saharan African nations were under 40 years old. The statistic of 21.9% has led SGU to advocate for risk-based screening practices across the continent. The university emphasized that healthcare providers should evaluate individual risk factors alongside age when determining screening strategies. Relying solely on age may hinder early detection efforts in underserved regions, they warned.
This appeal was part of SGU’s initiatives during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The institution stressed the importance of enhancing access to breast examinations, diagnostic imaging, and specialist services. As per GLOBOCAN 2024 estimates from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, Africa saw approximately 225,643 new breast cancer cases and 100,070 deaths in 2024. Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among African women and the leading cause of their cancer-related deaths.
Dr. Tonia Frame, head of the Global Health Unit at SGU’s Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine in Grenada, stated that age alone should not dictate risk assessment. “Breast cancer risk does not suddenly begin at a particular birthday,” she explained, adding that women of the same age can have very different risk profiles. She urged women to become familiar with the normal appearance and feel of their breasts. Any unusual or unexplained changes should be promptly checked by a healthcare professional, she advised.
Screening shortcomings leave many women without proper evaluation
A systematic review and meta-analysis from 2026, cited by SGU, found that only 13% of women in sub-Saharan Africa had ever undergone a clinical breast examination. The university linked this gap partly to disparities in education, household income, health insurance coverage, and healthcare access. Frame pointed out that breast cancer in Africa tends to occur at a younger age, while access to high-quality imaging remains inconsistent.
SGU highlighted factors such as family history of breast or ovarian cancer, genetic inheritance, breast density, and previous high-risk lesions as important considerations for screening plans. Women carrying BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene variants may need earlier screening, potentially starting at age 25, depending on clinical advice. The university urged women to discuss these factors, genetic counseling, and prior biopsy results with their healthcare providers.
AI technology can support the transition from awareness to treatment
SGU also pointed out that artificial intelligence could aid in triage, interpreting images, prioritizing workflow, and estimating risk, especially in areas with few specialists. However, it cautioned that such tools require validation, quality control, diagnostic confirmation, and continuous monitoring across different populations. “The most important feature is not the algorithm alone, but the complete pathway linking awareness, initial assessment, referral, diagnostic confirmation, and treatment,” Frame explained.
She suggested community health workers, portable AI devices, and digital referral systems could help primary healthcare reach women facing geographic, financial, and systemic challenges. SGU called for improved diagnostic infrastructure, increased training for frontline health workers, and better referral procedures. It emphasized that personalized screening should identify women needing earlier assessments without subjecting others to unnecessary testing. Early detection improvements must be paired with timely diagnosis and treatment, the university concluded.