LAGOS, Nigeria / AfricaWire.IO / – In a recent study conducted across five sub-Saharan African nations, more than 20% of women diagnosed with breast cancer were under the age of 40, according to St. George’s University. The statistic of 21.9% has led the university to advocate for screening strategies based on individual risk factors throughout Africa. SGU emphasized that healthcare providers should evaluate personal risk elements alongside age when determining screening protocols. Relying solely on age could hinder early detection efforts 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 services. According to GLOBOCAN 2024 estimates from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, Africa recorded approximately 225,643 new cases of breast cancer and 100,070 related deaths in 2024. Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in Africa and the primary cause of cancer-related fatalities in this population.
Dr. Tonia Frame, director of the Global Health Unit at SGU’s Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine in Grenada, stated that age alone should not determine a woman’s risk level. “Breast cancer risk does not suddenly begin at a particular birthday,” she explained, noting that two women of the same age can have markedly different risk profiles. She advised women to familiarize themselves with how their breasts normally appear and feel, urging prompt medical consultation for any unexplained changes.
Screening disparities leave many women unexamined
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 attainment, household income, health insurance coverage, and healthcare access. Frame pointed out that breast cancer in Africa often affects women at a comparatively younger age, while access to high-quality imaging remains inconsistent across regions.
SGU identified risk factors such as family history of breast or ovarian cancer, inherited genetic mutations, breast density, and early high-risk lesions as critical elements influencing screening strategies. Women carrying BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations might need to begin screening from age 25 or earlier, depending on clinical advice. The university encouraged women to discuss these factors, genetic counseling, and prior biopsy results with their healthcare providers.
The role of AI in advancing diagnosis and treatment pathways
SGU also highlighted artificial intelligence as a valuable tool for triage, interpreting images, prioritizing workflows, and estimating risk, especially in areas with limited specialist availability. However, it cautioned that such technologies require validation, quality control, diagnostic confirmation, and continuous 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 emphasized.
She suggested that community health workers, portable AI devices, and digital referral systems could enhance primary healthcare outreach to women facing geographical, financial, and systemic barriers. SGU called for improved diagnostic infrastructure, increased training for frontline health personnel, and more efficient referral networks. It stressed that personalized screening protocols should identify women requiring earlier assessment while avoiding unnecessary tests for others. The university concluded that early detection improvements must be paired with timely diagnosis and treatment.