LAGOS, Nigeria / AfricaWire.IO / – St. George’s University has called for implementing risk-based breast cancer screening strategies throughout Africa. This recommendation follows a study revealing that 21.9% of women diagnosed with the disease in five sub-Saharan African nations were under the age of 40. The university emphasized that healthcare providers should consider individual risk factors alongside age when determining screening needs. It also warned that relying solely on age could hinder early detection, especially in underserved regions.
The call was made by SGU during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, emphasizing the importance of expanding access to breast examinations, diagnostic imaging, and specialist care. Data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer‘s GLOBOCAN 2024 report, published in 2026, indicates Africa recorded approximately 225,643 new breast cancer cases and 100,070 deaths in 2024. Breast cancer remains the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women on the continent and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among females.
Dr. Tonia Frame, Assistant Professor and Director of the Global Health Unit at SGU’s Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine in Grenada, explained that individual risk varies. “Breast cancer risk does not suddenly begin at a particular birthday, and two women of the same age may have very different risk profiles,” she stated. Frame urged women to understand what normal breast appearance and sensation are and to seek prompt medical evaluation if they notice unexplained changes.
Genetics and family history influence screening strategies
According to Frame, breast cancer in Africa tends to present at a younger age and access to high-quality imaging remains inconsistent. The university identified factors such as family history of breast or ovarian cancer, inherited genetic mutations, breast density, and previous high-risk breast lesions as elements that could guide personalized screening plans. Women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations might need to begin screening earlier than the general population, potentially from age 25, based on clinical recommendations.
SGU also referenced a 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis which found that only 13% of women in sub-Saharan Africa had ever undergone a clinical breast examination. The university linked gaps in screening access to disparities in education, household income, health insurance coverage, and healthcare availability. It called for improvements in diagnostic infrastructure, increased training for frontline health workers, and broader access to imaging and pathology services. Enhancing referral systems to ensure timely care for women with abnormal findings is also a priority.
Artificial intelligence could aid detection in resource-limited settings
The university highlighted that artificial intelligence has the potential to support breast cancer detection through patient triage, image analysis, workflow management, and risk assessment, especially where specialist expertise is limited. Nevertheless, it cautioned that AI tools require rigorous validation, quality assurance, diagnostic confirmation, and ongoing monitoring across diverse populations. “AI output is not a diagnosis,” Frame emphasized. She added that AI results should be interpreted in conjunction with a patient’s clinical history, risk factors, examination findings, and appropriate imaging.
Frame suggested that community health workers, portable AI devices, and digital referral pathways could be integrated into primary healthcare systems to reach women facing geographical, financial, and systemic barriers. SGU encouraged women to discuss family history, genetic counseling options, breast density, and previous symptoms or biopsy results with their healthcare providers. The university stressed that early detection must be complemented by timely diagnosis and treatment, as delays in confirming abnormal findings remain a significant challenge across Africa.