Africa Records Sharpest Rise in Breast Cancer Cases as Nigeria Sees 542% Surge Since 1990
African nations now lead the global chart for the sharpest rise in new breast cancer cases, with Equatorial Guinea posting a staggering 312 per cent increase, according to findings from the latest Global Burden of Disease Study published on the website of The Lancet medical journal.
The comprehensive analysis, which PulseNets learned was released on Monday, drew on data from population-based cancer registries, vital registration systems, and interviews conducted with relatives or caregivers of women who died from breast cancer.
The study delivers updated global, regional and national estimates of female breast cancer incidence, mortality and risk factors between 1990 and 2023 across 204 countries and territories. It also includes projections stretching to 2050, offering a forward-looking assessment of the global breast cancer burden.
Equatorial Guinea, the report noted, recorded the most dramatic surge in new cases between 1990 and 2023 and the second-highest rise in breast cancer deaths at 212 per cent.
Closely trailing were Ethiopia with a 207 per cent increase in new cases, Egypt at 189 per cent, the Democratic Republic of the Congo at 160 per cent, and Mauritania at 141 per cent.
Uganda recorded a 135 per cent rise, Mali 133 per cent, and Liberia 129 per cent within the same period, figures obtained by PulseNets from the study.
Nigeria’s Rising Breast Cancer Crisis
In Nigeria, the data revealed a steep escalation in both breast cancer incidence and mortality, underscoring what health experts describe as a growing public health emergency.
The study showed that in 2023 alone, Nigeria documented 53,500 new breast cancer cases. That figure represents a 542.9 per cent increase compared to 1990 levels.
The age-standardised incidence rate climbed to 72.1 per 100,000 in 2023, reflecting a 108.8 per cent rise since 1990.
On the mortality front, Nigeria recorded 26,200 breast cancer deaths in 2023. This marks a 408.3 per cent increase over three decades.
Nigeria’s age-standardised death rate stood at 38.7 per 100,000 in 2023, representing a 73.5 per cent rise from 1990.
Globally, the study projected that annual breast cancer deaths will surge by 44 per cent from 764,000 in 2023 to nearly 1.4 million by 2050, with the heaviest toll expected in low- and lower-middle-income countries.
“The number of new breast cancer cases worldwide is predicted to rise by a third from 2.3 million in 2023 to over 3.5 million in 2050,” it stated
Global Patterns and Age Disparities
The report reaffirmed that breast cancer remains the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women worldwide. An estimated 2.3 million new cases were recorded in 2023 alone, with 73 per cent occurring in high- and upper-middle-income countries.
Globally, women aged 55 years and above accounted for three times as many new cases in 2023 compared to women aged 20 to 54 years.
However, since 1990, incidence rates among younger women aged 20 to 54 have been rising steadily, while rates among older women have remained relatively stable.
The study explained that these shifts may be linked to evolving age patterns and differences in risk exposure between pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women.
Modifiable Risk Factors and Prevention
According to findings reviewed by PulseNets, approximately 28 per cent of global breast cancer cases are attributable to six modifiable risk factors, including smoking, elevated blood sugar levels and obesity.
Researchers indicated that lifestyle adjustments such as avoiding tobacco use, maintaining regular physical activity, limiting red meat intake and sustaining a healthy body weight could significantly reduce risk.
High red meat consumption emerged as the most influential dietary risk factor, accounting for nearly 11 per cent of total healthy life lost.
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High alcohol intake and low physical activity were each responsible for roughly two per cent of healthy life lost, reinforcing the importance of sustained lifestyle changes.
Call for Stronger Health Systems
The study’s lead author, Lisa Force, emphasised the urgent need for coordinated global action to strengthen healthcare systems and expand access to early diagnosis and comprehensive breast cancer treatment.
Ms Force underscored the importance of reducing treatment costs and integrating essential breast cancer care into universal health coverage frameworks to shield patients from catastrophic health expenditures and improve survival outcomes.
