A recent analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study reveals that African nations are facing some of the fastest-increasing rates of breast cancer worldwide. Leading this trend is Equatorial Guinea, which has seen a 312% surge in new breast cancer cases since 1990.
The study, made public on Monday in The Lancet, utilizes data collected from cancer registries, vital statistics, and interviews with relatives of women who succumbed to breast cancer.
This research also offers updated estimates of female breast cancer incidence and related risk factors globally, regionally, and nationally from 1990 to 2023, projecting projections into 2050.
Equatorial Guinea not only recorded the highest rise in new cases, with a 312% increase, but also reported a significant increase in death rates, which rose by 212%.
Other countries in Africa with notable increases include Ethiopia (207%), Egypt (189%), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (160%), and Mauritania (141%). Additionally, significant rises were noted in Uganda (135%), Mali (133%), and Liberia (129%).
The findings indicate that Nigeria similarly faces a considerable uptick in breast cancer incidence and mortality. In 2023, the country documented 53,500 new breast cancer cases, an alarming 542.9% increase since 1990.
The age-standardized incidence rate in Nigeria reached 72.1 per 100,000 population, which signifies a rise of 108.8% compared to the figures from 1990. In terms of mortality, Nigeria recorded 26,200 deaths attributed to breast cancer in 2023, representing a 408.3% rise since 1990. The age-adjusted death rate was noted to be 38.7 per 100,000, which is an increase of 73.5% during the same time period.
These statistics echo the earlier predictions reported by PREMIUM TIMES that a global rise of 38% in breast cancer cases is anticipated by 2050, especially affecting low- and middle-income nations, including Nigeria.
Moreover, recent insights suggest that systemic policy failures, rather than solely medical hurdles, are driving the high breast cancer mortality rates among Nigerian women. This is predominantly attributed to late diagnoses, ineffective health systems, and substantial out-of-pocket expenses.
Globally, breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women. In 2023, approximately 2.3 million new cases were detected, with 73% of these found in high and upper-middle-income countries. The study forecasts that the annual global death toll from breast cancer will rise by 44%, from 764,000 in 2023 to nearly 1.4 million by 2050, primarily within low and lower-middle- income nations.
There is an alarming trend showing that the occurrence of new cases in women over 55 years old was three times higher than in those aged 20 to 54 in 2023. However, the incidence rates among younger women aged 20 to 54 have increased since 1990, while rates among older women have remained relatively steady.
The researchers believe these variations may stem from changing age demographics and differing risk factors affecting pre- and post-menopausal women.
The study attributes 28% of the global breast cancer burden to six modifiable risk factors including obesity, high blood sugar, and smoking. In particular, excessive consumption of red meat was identified as the most impactful, causing nearly 11% of all healthy life years lost. High alcohol consumption and low physical activity each accounted for around 2%.
To mitigate risks, the findings advocate for a healthy lifestyle that includes refraining from smoking, engaging in regular physical activity, reducing red meat intake, and maintaining a healthy weight. Lisa Force, the lead author of the study, emphasized the urgent need for global cooperation.
Ms. Force called for collective action to establish functional health systems capable of facilitating early diagnosis and comprehensive treatment across all nations. She also highlighted the necessity of lowering breast cancer treatment costs and ensuring that essential services are covered by universal health coverage to safeguard patients from extreme health expenditures and enhance treatment outcomes.
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