LAGOS, Nigeria / AfricaWire.IO / – According to a study emphasized by St. George’s University, over 21.9% of women diagnosed with breast cancer in five sub-Saharan African nations were under 40 years old. This statistic has prompted the university to advocate for risk-based screening methods across the continent. SGU emphasized that healthcare providers should evaluate individual risk factors alongside age when determining screening protocols. Relying solely on age could hinder early detection efforts in underserved populations, the institution warned.
The call to action was part of SGU’s activities for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The university stressed the importance of expanding access to breast examinations, diagnostic imaging, and specialist care. As per GLOBOCAN 2024 estimates from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, Africa experienced approximately 225,643 new breast cancer cases and 100,070 deaths in 2024. Breast cancer remains the most diagnosed cancer among African women and the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in this group.
Dr. Tonia Frame, head of the Global Health Unit within SGU’s Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine in Grenada, stated that age alone should not be the sole factor in assessing risk. “Breast cancer risk does not suddenly begin at a particular birthday,” she explained, adding that two women of the same age can have significantly different risk profiles. She advised women to familiarize themselves with their usual breast appearance and feel, encouraging prompt medical consultation for any unexplained changes.
Screening disparities leave many women unexamined
A systematic review and meta-analysis from 2026, referenced by SGU, revealed that only 13% of women in sub-Saharan Africa had ever undergone a clinical breast examination. The university attributed this gap partly to disparities in education, household wealth, health insurance coverage, and access to healthcare. Frame pointed out that breast cancer in Africa often presents at a younger age, while access to advanced imaging technology remains inconsistent.
Factors such as family history of breast or ovarian cancer, inherited genetic mutations, breast density, and previous high-risk lesions are crucial in shaping screening strategies, SGU noted. Women carrying BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene variants may require earlier screening, potentially starting at age 25, depending on clinical guidance. The university urged women to discuss these aspects, including genetic counseling and prior biopsy results, with their healthcare providers.
Leveraging AI to improve diagnosis and care pathways
SGU highlighted artificial intelligence as a valuable tool for triage, interpreting images, prioritizing workflows, and estimating risk, especially in regions with limited specialist availability. It warned that such technologies need proper validation, quality control, diagnostic confirmation, and continuous monitoring across diverse populations. “The most important feature is not the algorithm alone, but the complete pathway linking awareness, initial assessment, referral, diagnostic confirmation and treatment,” Frame stated.
Community health workers, portable AI devices, and digital referral systems could significantly extend primary healthcare reach to women facing geographical, financial, and systemic barriers. SGU called for improved diagnostic infrastructure, enhanced training for frontline health workers, and more effective referral mechanisms. The university emphasized that personalized screening approaches are essential to identify women requiring earlier assessment without subjecting others to unnecessary procedures. Timely diagnosis and treatment, it added, are critical for improving early detection outcomes, as detailed in timely diagnosis and treatment.