LAGOS, Nigeria / AfricaWire.IO / – According to a study highlighted 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 the university to advocate for risk-based screening protocols across the continent. SGU emphasized that healthcare providers should evaluate both age and individual risk factors when determining screening strategies. Relying solely on age could hinder early detection efforts in underserved populations, the institution warned.
This call to action was part of SGU’s initiatives for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The university underscored the importance of increasing access to breast examinations, diagnostic imaging, and specialist services. As per GLOBOCAN 2024 estimates from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, Africa saw approximately 225,643 new breast cancer cases and 100,070 deaths in 2024. Breast cancer remains the most common cancer diagnosed among African women and the leading cause of their cancer-related mortality.
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 risk assessment. “Breast cancer risk does not suddenly begin at a particular birthday,” she explained, adding that women of the same age can have markedly different risk profiles. She advised women to become familiar with how their breasts normally look and feel, and to seek prompt medical evaluation for any unexplained changes.
Screening disparities leave many women without proper checks
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 educational levels, household income, health insurance coverage, and healthcare access. Frame pointed out that breast cancer in Africa often presents at a relatively younger age, while access to quality imaging services remains inconsistent.
SGU highlighted factors such as family history of breast or ovarian cancer, inherited genetic mutations, breast density, and previous high-risk lesions as elements influencing screening strategies. Women carrying BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations might need to start screening earlier than the typical age, potentially from age 25, based on clinical guidelines. The university urged women to discuss these factors, including genetic counseling and prior biopsy results, with their healthcare providers.
AI technologies could enhance early detection and treatment pathways
SGU also pointed to artificial intelligence as a valuable tool for triage, image analysis, workflow management, and risk prediction, especially in regions with limited specialist availability. However, it cautioned that such tools require rigorous validation, quality assurance, diagnostic confirmation, and ongoing oversight 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 emphasized.
Frame suggested that community health workers, portable AI devices, and digital referral systems could extend primary healthcare reach to women facing geographical, financial, and systemic barriers. SGU called for improved diagnostic infrastructure, enhanced training for frontline healthcare providers, and more effective referral networks. It stressed that personalized screening should identify women who need earlier evaluations without subjecting others to unnecessary procedures. The university added that early detection improvements must be paired with timely diagnosis and treatment.