LAGOS, Nigeria / AfricaWire.IO / – According to a report from St. George’s University, more than one in five women diagnosed with breast cancer in five sub-Saharan African nations are under the age of 40. The statistic of 21.9% has led SGU to advocate for screening strategies based on individual risk factors across the continent. The university emphasized that healthcare providers should consider personal risk elements alongside age when determining screening protocols. Relying solely on age could hinder early detection efforts, particularly in underserved regions, the institution warned.
This appeal was part of SGU’s initiatives for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The university highlighted the importance of enhancing access to breast examinations, diagnostic imaging, and specialist care. As per GLOBOCAN 2024 estimates published in 2026 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, Africa recorded approximately 225,643 new cases of breast cancer and 100,070 deaths in 2024. Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among African women and is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in this population.
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 on age alone. “Breast cancer risk does not suddenly begin at a particular birthday,” she explained, adding that two women of the same age may have very different risk profiles. She encouraged women to familiarize themselves with how their breasts normally look and feel, and to seek prompt medical evaluation for any unexplained changes.
Screening deficiencies leave many women without assessment
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 education levels, household income, health insurance coverage, and healthcare access. Frame noted that breast cancer in Africa often presents at a younger age, while access to high-quality imaging remains inconsistent across regions.
SGU highlighted several factors that influence screening strategies, including family history of breast or ovarian cancer, genetic inheritance, breast density, and previous high-risk lesions. Women carrying BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations might need to begin screening earlier than the typical age, potentially from 25, depending on clinical guidance. The university urged women to discuss these risk factors, as well as genetic counseling and prior biopsy results, with their healthcare providers.
Advancing from awareness to treatment requires AI-driven support
SGU also pointed to artificial intelligence as a valuable tool for triage, interpreting images, prioritizing workflows, and estimating risk in areas with limited specialist availability. It emphasized that such technologies must undergo validation, quality checks, diagnostic confirmation, and ongoing 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.
Frame suggested that community health workers, portable AI devices, and digital referral systems could enhance primary healthcare reach, especially for women facing geographical, financial, or systemic barriers. SGU called for strengthening diagnostic infrastructure, increasing training for frontline health workers, and improving referral pathways. It stressed that personalized screening approaches should identify women requiring earlier assessments without subjecting others to unnecessary procedures. The university added that early detection improvements must be complemented by timely diagnosis and treatment.