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 the age of 40. This statistic has led SGU to advocate for screening strategies based on individual risk factors across the continent. The university emphasized that healthcare providers should evaluate personal risk alongside age when recommending screening procedures. Relying solely on age could hinder early detection efforts in underserved communities, the institution warned.
This appeal was part of SGU’s initiatives for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The university underscored the importance of expanding access to breast exams, diagnostic imaging, and specialist services. As per GLOBOCAN 2024 estimates from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, Africa recorded approximately 225,643 new breast cancer cases and 100,070 deaths in 2024. Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among African women and the leading cause of cancer-related fatalities in this population.
Dr. Tonia Frame, director of the Global Health Unit within SGU’s Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine in Grenada, stated that risk assessment should not depend solely on age. “Breast cancer risk does not suddenly begin at a particular birthday,” she explained. She added that two women of the same age might have markedly different risk profiles. Women are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the normal look and feel of their breasts. Any unexplained changes should be promptly evaluated by a healthcare professional, she emphasized.
Screening deficiencies leave many women unexamined
A systematic review and meta-analysis from 2026, cited by SGU, found 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 affects women at a younger age, yet access to high-quality imaging remains inconsistent across regions.
SGU highlighted factors such as family history of breast or ovarian cancer, inherited genetic mutations, breast density, and previous high-risk lesions as crucial considerations in designing screening plans. Women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic variants might need to begin screening as early as age 25, depending on clinical guidelines. The university urged women to discuss these factors, genetic counseling, and prior biopsy results with their healthcare providers.
The path from awareness to intervention requires AI-driven support
SGU also pointed to artificial intelligence as a valuable tool for triage, interpreting images, prioritizing workflows, and estimating risks in areas with limited specialist availability. It warned that such tools must undergo validation, quality assurance, diagnostic confirmation, and continuous monitoring 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 enhance primary healthcare outreach, especially for women facing geographical, financial, or systemic barriers. SGU called for investment in diagnostic infrastructure, increased training for frontline health workers, and better referral networks. The university emphasized that personalized screening strategies should identify women who need earlier assessments without subjecting others to unnecessary procedures. Early detection improvements must be paired with timely diagnosis and treatment, it added.