LAGOS, Nigeria / AfricaWire.IO / – Across five countries in sub-Saharan Africa, more than 20% of women diagnosed with breast cancer were under the age of 40, according to a study emphasized by St. George’s University. This statistic of 21.9% has led the university to advocate for screening strategies tailored to individual risk factors across the continent. SGU emphasized that healthcare providers should evaluate both age and personal risk factors when determining screening protocols. Relying solely on age could hinder early detection efforts, especially in underserved communities, the institution warned.
The call to action coincides with SGU’s initiatives for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The university underscored the importance of enhancing access to breast examinations, diagnostic imaging, and specialist services. According to GLOBOCAN 2024 estimates from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, approximately 225,643 new cases and 100,070 deaths from breast cancer were reported in Africa in 2024. It remains the most common cancer diagnosis among African women and the leading cause of their cancer-related mortality.
Dr. Tonia Frame, head of the Global Health Unit at SGU’s Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine in Grenada, stressed that age alone should not define risk. “Breast cancer risk does not suddenly begin at a particular birthday,” she explained, adding that women of the same age can have significantly different risk profiles. She advised women to become familiar with their breasts’ usual appearance and sensations, urging prompt medical attention for any unexplained changes.
Screening disparities leave many women unexamined
A systematic review and meta-analysis from 2026, 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 disparities in educational levels, household income, health insurance coverage, and healthcare access. Frame noted that breast cancer in Africa tends to present at a younger age, while access to quality imaging remains inconsistent across regions.
Factors such as family history of breast or ovarian cancer, inherited genetic mutations, breast tissue density, and previous high-risk lesions influence screening approaches. Women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene variants may require earlier screening, potentially from age 25, depending on clinical guidance. SGU encouraged women to discuss these factors, genetic counseling options, and prior biopsy results with their healthcare providers.
Leveraging AI to bridge the gap from awareness to treatment
The university also highlighted artificial intelligence as a valuable tool for triage, image analysis, workflow management, and risk prediction, especially in areas lacking specialists. However, it emphasized that such tools need thorough validation, quality checks, diagnostic confirmation, and continuous oversight 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 stated.
Frame suggested that community health workers, portable AI devices, and digital referral systems could extend primary healthcare services to women facing geographical, financial, and systemic barriers. SGU called for improvements in diagnostic infrastructure, increased training for frontline health workers, and better referral pathways. It advocated for personalized screening to identify women needing earlier assessments without subjecting others to unnecessary tests. The university added that early detection efforts must be complemented by timely diagnosis and treatment.