LAGOS, Nigeria / AfricaWire.IO / – St. George’s University (SGU) has highlighted a study showing that more than one in five women diagnosed with breast cancer in five sub-Saharan African nations were under 40 years old. The study’s finding of 21.9% has led SGU to advocate for screening strategies based on individual risk factors across Africa. The university emphasized that healthcare providers should evaluate personal risk profiles along with age when determining screening protocols. Relying solely on age might 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 stressed the importance of expanding access to breast examinations, diagnostic imaging, and specialized care. According to GLOBOCAN 2024 estimates from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, published in 2026, Africa experienced approximately 225,643 new cases of breast cancer and 100,070 related deaths in 2024. Breast cancer remains the most common cancer diagnosed among African women and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in this demographic.
Dr. Tonia Frame, who oversees the Global Health Unit within SGU’s Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine in Grenada, stated that age 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 could have markedly different risk profiles. She advised women to become familiar with how their breasts normally look and feel, and to seek medical evaluation promptly for any unexplained changes.
Screening disparities result in many women going undetected
A systematic review and meta-analysis from 2026, cited 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 variations in education levels, household income, health insurance coverage, and healthcare accessibility. Frame noted that breast cancer in Africa often presents at a comparatively younger age, with access to high-quality imaging still uneven across the continent.
SGU identified several risk factors—including family history of breast or ovarian cancer, inherited genetic mutations, breast density, and previous high-risk lesions—that can influence screening strategies. Women carrying BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene variants might need to begin screening earlier than the typical age, potentially as young as 25, depending on clinical guidance. The university urged women to discuss these risk factors, genetic counseling, and prior biopsy results with their healthcare providers.
Leveraging AI to enhance screening and treatment pathways
SGU also emphasized the role of artificial intelligence in aiding triage, image analysis, workflow management, and risk assessment, especially in regions with limited specialist availability. However, it cautioned that such tools require validation, quality assurance, diagnostic confirmation, and continuous oversight across different population groups. “The most important feature is not the algorithm alone, but the complete pathway linking awareness, initial assessment, referral, diagnostic confirmation and treatment,” Frame explained.
Frame suggested that community health workers, portable AI devices, and digital referral systems could significantly improve primary healthcare outreach to women facing geographical, financial, and systemic obstacles. SGU called for investment in diagnostic infrastructure, increased training for frontline healthcare workers, and improved referral mechanisms. The university stressed that personalized screening approaches should identify women who require earlier evaluation without subjecting others to unnecessary procedures. It added that early detection efforts must be complemented by timely diagnosis and treatment.