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 countries were under 40 years old. This 21.9% statistic has led the university to advocate for risk-based screening methods throughout Africa. SGU emphasized that healthcare providers should evaluate individual risk factors alongside age when determining screening strategies. Solely relying on age could hinder early detection efforts in underserved populations, the institution warned.
This appeal was part of SGU’s initiatives for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The university underlined the importance of enhancing access to breast examinations, diagnostic imaging, and specialist care. As per the International Agency for Research on Cancer estimates from 2024, published in 2026, Africa recorded approximately 225,643 new breast cancer cases and 100,070 deaths in 2024. Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among African women and the primary cause of cancer-related fatalities in this group.
Dr. Tonia Frame, who oversees the Global Health Unit within SGU’s Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine in Grenada, stated that risk assessment should not be based solely on age. “Breast cancer risk does not suddenly begin at a particular birthday,” she explained, adding that two women of the same age could have significantly different risk profiles. She advised women to become familiar with their usual breast appearance and sensations, urging prompt medical consultation for any unexplained changes.
Screening disparities leave many women unexamined
A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis cited by SGU revealed that only 13% of women in sub-Saharan Africa have ever undergone a clinical breast examination. The university attributed this gap partly to differences in education levels, household income, health insurance coverage, and healthcare accessibility. Frame pointed out that breast cancer in Africa often manifests at a relatively younger age, while access to high-quality imaging remains inconsistent.
SGU highlighted factors such as family history of breast or ovarian cancer, inherited genetic mutations, breast density, and prior high-risk lesions as key considerations for screening strategies. Women carrying BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene variants might require earlier screening—potentially from age 25—based on clinical guidelines. The university recommended that women discuss these factors, along with genetic counseling and previous biopsy results, with their healthcare providers.
Artificial intelligence can enhance the pathway from detection to treatment
SGU also emphasized the role of artificial intelligence in triage, image analysis, workflow prioritization, and risk assessment, especially in regions with limited specialist availability. Nonetheless, it warned that such tools need thorough validation, quality checks, 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 noted.
She added that community health workers, portable AI devices, and digital referral pathways could significantly improve primary healthcare outreach to women facing geographical, financial, and systemic obstacles. SGU called for investments in diagnostic infrastructure, expanded training for frontline health workers, and strengthened referral systems. It stressed that personalized screening approaches should identify women needing earlier evaluations without subjecting others to unnecessary tests. The university concluded that advancing early detection must be paired with timely diagnosis and treatment.