LAGOS, Nigeria / AfricaWire.IO / – According to a study highlighted by St. George’s University, more than 21.9% of women diagnosed with breast cancer in five sub-Saharan African countries were under 40. This statistic has prompted the university to advocate for risk-based screening strategies across the continent. SGU emphasized that healthcare providers should evaluate individual risk factors alongside age when determining screening protocols, warning that relying solely on age could hinder early detection efforts in underserved populations.
This appeal was part of SGU’s initiatives for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The institution underscored the importance of expanding access to breast examinations, diagnostic imaging, and specialist services. As per estimates from GLOBOCAN 2024 published in 2026 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, 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 primary 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 determine a woman’s risk. “Breast cancer risk does not suddenly begin at a particular birthday,” she explained, adding that two women of the same age might have very different risk profiles. She recommended that women become familiar with how their breasts normally look and feel, and promptly consult a doctor if any unexplained changes occur.
Screening deficiencies leave many women unassessed
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 disparities in education, household income, health insurance coverage, and healthcare access. Frame pointed out that breast cancer in Africa often manifests at a comparatively younger age, while access to high-quality imaging remains inconsistent across regions.
SGU identified factors such as family history of breast or ovarian cancer, inherited genetic traits, breast density, and previous high-risk lesions as critical in shaping screening decisions. Women carrying BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations might need to begin screening as early as age 25, depending on clinical guidelines. The university advised women to discuss these factors, along with options for genetic counseling and previous biopsy results, with their healthcare providers.
The role of AI in bridging diagnosis and treatment gaps
SGU also highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence to assist in triage, image analysis, workflow management, and risk assessment, especially in areas with limited specialist availability. However, it cautioned that such tools require 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.
She further explained that community health workers, portable AI devices, and digital referral systems could enhance primary healthcare services for women facing geographical, financial, and systemic barriers. SGU called for improvements in diagnostic infrastructure, increased training for frontline health personnel, and efficient referral mechanisms. It stressed that personalized screening approaches should identify women needing earlier assessments without subjecting others to unnecessary procedures. The university concluded that advancing early detection must go hand in hand with timely diagnosis and treatment.