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 approaches that focus on individual risk factors rather than age alone across the continent. The university emphasized that healthcare providers should evaluate personal risk 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 during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The university underscored the importance of expanding access to breast examinations, diagnostic imaging, and specialized care. As per GLOBOCAN 2024 estimates from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, published in 2026, Africa experienced 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 is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in this group.
Dr. Tonia Frame, who heads the Global Health Unit within SGU’s Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine in Grenada, explained that age alone should not be the determining factor for risk assessment. She stated, “Breast cancer risk does not suddenly begin at a particular birthday,” adding that two women of the same age can have vastly different risk profiles. She advised women to become familiar with how their breasts typically look and feel, and to seek medical attention promptly for any unexplained changes, she said.
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 have ever undergone a clinical breast examination. The university attributed this gap partly to disparities in education, household income, health insurance coverage, and access to healthcare. Frame pointed out that breast cancer in Africa often manifests at a relatively younger age, while access to high-quality imaging remains inconsistent across regions.
SGU highlighted several risk factors that can influence screening strategies, including family history of breast or ovarian cancer, inherited genetic mutations, breast density, and prior high-risk lesions. Women carrying BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene variants might need to begin screening earlier than the typical age, potentially starting at 25, depending on clinical guidance. The university emphasized the importance of women discussing these factors, alongside genetic counseling and previous biopsy findings, with their healthcare providers.
Advancing from awareness to care requires AI assistance
SGU also pointed to artificial intelligence as a valuable tool for triage, interpreting images, managing workflows, and estimating risk in areas where specialist availability is limited. The institution cautioned that such AI solutions must undergo validation, quality checks, diagnostic confirmation, and continuous monitoring 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 noted.
She added 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 enhanced diagnostic infrastructure, increased training for frontline healthcare providers, and improved referral mechanisms. The university stressed that personalized screening should identify women who require earlier evaluation without subjecting others to unnecessary procedures. It concluded that early detection improvements must be paired with timely diagnosis and treatment.