Breast Cancer in Africa: Why Are So Many Women Affected?
Working in the surgical outpatient department of the hospital, I noticed something that deeply troubled me — the overwhelming number of women seeking help for breast-related issues.
Day after day, women would come in for post-surgical dressing after mastectomies, for check-ups after breast surgery, or to report strange lumps and abnormal discharges.
It wasn't just a few cases here and there — it was a heavy, constant flow.
And it wasn’t only older women.
I encountered young women in their twenties, teenagers, and even a 27-year-old woman who had to undergo surgery due to a condition called gigantomastia — a rare medical condition that causes abnormal and excessive breast growth.
It was heartbreaking to see that at such a young age, she had to go through something so life-changing.
Breast issues seem to have become an everyday burden for African women.
The breast — an organ tied so closely to a woman’s identity, nurturing, and confidence — has become a major source of pain, fear, and even death.
This reality stirred something in me, both as a healthcare provider and as a writer.
I felt the need to dig deeper:
Why are so many women struggling with breast conditions?
Are African women even aware of how serious this issue is?
Why does it seem like breast problems are becoming a silent epidemic here?
Understanding Breast Cancer
In my research, I learned that breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide — only skin cancer is more common.
It occurs when breast cells begin to multiply uncontrollably.
Most breast cancers start in either:
The lobules (milk-producing glands) or
The ducts (pathways that carry milk to the nipple).
This abnormal multiplication leads to tumor formation, and if left untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body.
Some early warning signs include:
A lump or thickening in the breast or underarm
Changes in breast size, shape, or appearance
Unexplained nipple discharge
Redness or dimpling of the breast skin
Inverted nipples or persistent breast pain
Breast cancer is not selective. It affects young women, old women, rich, poor, educated, and uneducated alike.
The Global Picture vs. Africa’s Reality
At first, I assumed that Africa must have the highest number of breast cancer cases because of how often I encountered it in the hospital.
But what I discovered shocked me.
Countries like New Zealand, Australia, the United States, and parts of Europe actually have higher rates of breast cancer diagnoses than Africa.
However — and this is the painful truth — Africa has the highest breast cancer mortality rates in the world.
In Europe or America, a woman might be diagnosed with breast cancer, receive prompt treatment, and go on to live a full, healthy life.
In Africa, a woman is more likely to be diagnosed late, treated too late, and unfortunately, die from a disease that could have been managed or even cured.
Why Don’t We Have a High Incidence Rate?
Interestingly, Africa — and particularly countries like Nigeria — does not have a high incidence rate of breast cancer when compared to Western countries.
Why?
Our lifestyles protect us to a large extent:
Higher marriage and fertility rates (more pregnancies and breastfeeding protect against breast cancer)
Less obesity compared to Western populations
More physical activity in daily life
Lower levels of exposure to certain industrial and environmental risk factors
These factors naturally reduce the risk of developing breast cancer compared to women in more industrialized countries.
Then Why Are So Many Women Dying?
If we have fewer cases, why are our death rates so high?
This is the painful part.
The reality is that we are a developing country.
We face critical issues like:
Lack of access to screening and early detection tools (like mammography)
Shortage of trained healthcare providers
Expensive and limited treatment options
Widespread poverty, making healthcare unaffordable for many
Poor healthcare infrastructure, especially in rural areas
Even when women detect a lump or notice a change, many are unable to access timely medical care.
Delays — either due to ignorance, fear, stigma, or cost — often mean that breast cancer is diagnosed in very advanced stages.
Another painful reason for this high mortality is cultural beliefs and stigma.
In many African societies, a woman’s beauty and worth are heavily tied to her physical appearance — especially her breasts.
Mastectomy (surgical removal of the breast) is often seen as shameful.
Many women, out of fear of losing their breasts and the societal rejection that might follow, refuse treatment or delay it dangerously.
They would rather stay sick than face the emotional pain of "losing their womanhood."
This deep-rooted stigma keeps many women from seeking lifesaving surgeries or therapies on time.
A Cry for Help: Our Governments Must Act
Our leaders must understand that breast health is a major health burden for women in Nigeria and Africa at large.
Every day, hospitals see more women struggling with breast issues — not just cancer but other conditions too.
The trend is undeniable.
We need urgent investment in:
Affordable breast cancer screening programs
Well-equipped cancer treatment centers
Public education and awareness campaigns
Subsidies for cancer medications and surgeries
Training and empowering healthcare workers at all levels
Programs to educate communities and fight cultural stigmas surrounding breast health
This is not just a "women's issue" — it is a national health crisis that demands immediate attention.
What Can We Do as Individuals?
The situation feels overwhelming, but it is not hopeless.
Change begins with small actions taken consistently.
Here’s what we can start doing:
1. Massive Awareness Campaigns
We need to go into rural communities, markets, schools, churches, and mosques — everywhere — to teach women how to:
Examine their breasts
Recognize early warning signs
Understand that early hospital visits save lives
Awareness should not just stay in hospitals.
It should reach the villages, the slums, the streets — places where education is scarce.
2. Affordable and Accessible Screening
Government and NGOs need to invest in providing free or low-cost mammograms and clinical breast exams.
Screening should not be a luxury only the rich can afford.
3. Subsidized Treatment
Breast cancer treatment should be subsidized so that no woman has to choose between survival and starvation.
4. Training More Healthcare Workers
We need more oncologists, nurses, counselors, and surgeons trained specifically in breast health across Africa.
5. Breaking the Cultural Silence
We must encourage open conversations about breast health.
Our breasts are not just objects of shame or secrecy.
They are part of our bodies, our health, and our future.
Women who undergo mastectomy are not "less of a woman."
They are warriors, survivors, and they deserve our full support, love, and admiration.
Conclusion: It’s Time to Save Lives
Breast cancer is stealing too many of our mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters.
But it doesn’t have to.
If we raise awareness, improve healthcare access, support women emotionally and financially, and fight the stigma, we can turn the tide.
It's time to stop whispering about breast health and start shouting it from the rooftops.
It’s time to equip every woman — whether she lives in a bustling city or a quiet village — with the knowledge and power to protect her health.
Our leaders must know that breast health matters.
Our healthcare systems must respond urgently.
Our voices must be loud.
I love you. Thank you for reading. Let’s keep spreading the light.
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