Across Africa, breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among women and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s GLOBOCAN 2024 estimates, published in 2026, Africa recorded approximately 225,643 new breast cancer cases and an estimated 100,070 deaths in 2024. These figures underscore the importance of raising awareness, recognizing symptoms early, and improving access to timely diagnosis and treatment.
The median age of diagnosis among African women with breast cancer varies across countries and populations. A 2025 study of women diagnosed with breast cancer across five sub-Saharan African countries found that 21.9% of participants were diagnosed before age 40.
These findings underscore the importance of breast awareness, timely symptom evaluation, clinical examination, and individual risk assessment. The World Health Organization recommends early diagnosis and timely evaluation of women with breast cancer symptoms, while screening recommendations should consider individual risk and available resources.
“Breast cancer risk does not suddenly begin at a particular birthday, and two women of the same age may have very different risk profiles,” said Dr. Tonia Frame, Assistant Professor and Director of the Global Health Unit in the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at St. George’s University, Grenada, West Indies. “Women should be encouraged to become familiar with the usual appearance and feel of their breasts and to seek prompt clinical evaluation for unexplained breast changes. In Africa, where breast cancer often presents at a comparatively younger age, and access to high-quality imaging is uneven, discussions about early detection should extend beyond age alone. Family history, inherited susceptibility, previous breast findings and other recognized risk factors can help determine whether a woman may benefit from earlier assessment, specialist referral or additional imaging.”
Why individual risk matters
A risk-informed approach should consider several factors:
- Family history: Breast or ovarian cancer in close relatives, particularly diagnoses at younger ages, cancer affecting both breasts, male breast cancer, or multiple affected relatives may indicate inherited susceptibility. This may warrant earlier risk assessment before age 40.
- Genetic factors: Women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene variants may also require earlier than average-risk screening, starting as early as age 25.
- Breast density: Dense breast tissue can lower the sensitivity of mammography and is independently associated with breast cancer risk. Supplemental imaging such as MRI may be considered in selected women, based on the overall risk, the quality of available imaging and the potential for false-positive results and unnecessary biopsies.
- Previous breast findings: A previous high-risk breast lesion, atypical biopsy result or suspicious imaging finding may change the recommended screening frequency or method. Women with such findings should follow an individualized plan developed with their physician.
Persistent inequalities in access
Access to breast assessment, imaging and specialist interpretation remains highly unequal across sub-Saharan Africa. A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis found that only 13% of women had ever undergone a clinical breast examination, with uptake varying according to education, household wealth, health insurance coverage and contact with healthcare services. The region also faces significant gaps in diagnostic capacity. According to the WHO Regional Office for Africa, limited diagnostic infrastructure and shortages of specialized healthcare personnel contribute to late diagnosis and poor outcomes. These challenges reinforce the need to expand access to breast assessment, diagnostic imaging, pathology services and trained specialists, particularly in underserved communities.
Addressing these inequalities requires more than awareness campaigns. Priorities include strengthening clinical breast examination and referral pathways, training frontline health workers, expanding access to diagnostic imaging and pathology, ensuring timely follow-up after abnormal findings, and monitoring outcomes across socioeconomic and geographic groups.
Where artificial intelligence could support early detection
Artificial intelligence (AI) is being evaluated as a potential support for breast cancer detection in settings where imaging capacity and specialist availability are limited. Depending on the technology and clinical context, AI may assist with triage, image interpretation, workflow prioritization or risk estimation. Its clinical value depends on appropriate validation, reliable referral pathways, diagnostic confirmation, quality assurance and ongoing monitoring for unequal performance across population groups.
“Integrating community health workers, portable AI technology and digital referral pathways within primary health care could potentially help reach women who face geographic, financial or health-system barriers,” said Dr. Tonia Frame. “The most important feature is not the algorithm alone, but the complete pathway linking awareness, initial assessment, referral, diagnostic confirmation and treatment. AI output is not a diagnosis. It must be interpreted alongside the patient’s clinical history, risk factors, examination findings and appropriate diagnostic imaging.”
Translating personal risk into informed screening decisions
For women, a more personalized approach does not mean performing more tests in every case. It means identifying those who may benefit from earlier, more frequent or different forms of assessment while avoiding unnecessary imaging and procedures among women unlikely to benefit.
As part of a shared decision-making conversation, women may wish to ask their physician:
- Based on my age and personal risk factors, when should breast cancer screening begin?
- Does my family history suggest that I need a formal risk assessment?
- Would referral for genetic counselling be appropriate for me?
- If I have dense breasts, how does that affect the interpretation of my mammogram and my overall risk?
- Do previous breast symptoms, imaging findings or biopsy results change my follow-up plan?
- Which screening or diagnostic services are available locally, and what follow-up will be provided if an abnormality is found?
- Would a formal breast cancer risk-assessment help guide my screening plan?
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an opportunity to advocate for equitable care pathways, from risk assessment and early detection to diagnosis and timely treatment. Across Africa, a key challenge is ensuring every woman with a concerning symptom or abnormal finding receives appropriate assessment, diagnostic confirmation, and treatment without avoidable delays.
Preparing future physicians for evolving healthcare needs is central to medical and public health education at St. George’s University School of Medicine. Through a diverse, international learning environment and clinical exposure, students develop the medical knowledge, clinical skills, and professional competencies needed to care for diverse patient populations.
For more information on the programs and tracks available through SGU School of Medicine, visit SGU’s website.
About St. George’s University School of Medicine:
Founded in 1976, St. George’s University (SGU) is a center for academic excellence worldwide. With students and faculty drawn from more than 150 countries, SGU is truly an international institution, with a uniquely global perspective. The SGU School of Medicine is accredited by the Grenada Medical and Dental Council which has been recognized by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME). The school offers a four-year Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree program. Students can also enter the MD degree program from many education systems around the world via the five-, six-, or seven-year MD tracks. SGU has a large network of 75+ affiliated hospitals and health centers in the US and UK, with the unique opportunity for students to begin their medical career in Grenada or the UK.
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Author: Oti Egwu from Bloomwit Africa on behalf of St. George’s University.
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