Advances in Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment in Africa

Abstract

Simple Summary Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in women worldwide and is becoming an increasing health challenge across Africa. Although many scientific advances have improved how breast cancer is detected and treated, women in many African countries continue to experience poorer outcomes because cancers are often diagnosed at a later stage and access to specialised care, molecular testing, and modern therapies remains limited. At the same time, African populations are underrepresented in much of the research that guides current clinical practice, making it difficult to ensure that new technologies are equally effective for all patients. This review highlights recent advances in breast cancer diagnosis, and treatment, including precision medicine, artificial intelligence, and discusses how these developments could improve cancer care in Africa. We also explore the challenges that must be addressed to ensure equitable access to embed these new technologies in clinical practice. By increasing African participation in research and developing healthcare solutions that are tailored to local needs, these advances have the potential to improve earlier diagnosis, support more personalised treatment, and ultimately reduce breast cancer deaths across the continent.