Younger Women in Ghana Face Rising Breast Cancer Risk

Younger Women in Ghana Face Rising Breast Cancer Risk

Younger women in Ghana are increasingly at risk of developing breast cancer, with most cases diagnosed at advanced stages, reducing patients' chances of survival. According to experts, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Ghana.

Early Diagnosis Key to Survival

Reproductive factors and risk of breast cancer by tumour subtypes among Ghanaian women have been studied in a population-based case-control study. The study found that parous women were at elevated risk compared with nulliparous women, increasing to 1·60 among those aged <40 years.

Age at Diagnosis a Concern

While most women affected in Ghana are between 40 and 49 years old, those as young as 20 years can get breast cancer. Men can also get breast cancer, though it is rare. The Ghana Breast Health Study, a multidisciplinary case-control study in West Africa, aims to discover the contribution of genetic, lifestyle, and other risk factors to breast cancer among West African women.

High Incidence of ER-Negative Tumors

Women in Ghana were diagnosed with breast cancer at earlier ages and had a higher frequency of ER-negative tumors compared with women in the US, according to a study published in Jamanetwork. ER-negative breast cancers occur more frequently in women with West African ancestry compared to European and other African ancestries. Hormone-negative breast cancers are more common among younger African American and Black women compared with non-Hispanic White women.

Researchers Call for Action

"We've seen the rising incidence of cancer in younger women for years now," said Dr. Dorraya El-Ashry, BCRF Chief Scientific Officer. "Breast cancer specifically has been the largest driver in women under 50. We must get to the root of the problem by identifying those at high risk so they benefit from screening—and even potentially intercepting the disease before it becomes invasive—and improving screening technology so that younger women, who are especially likely to have dense breasts, can benefit."

The Road Ahead

The Ghana Breast Health Study aims to provide valuable insights into the genetic, lifestyle, and other risk factors contributing to breast cancer among West African women. With breast cancer being the most common cancer among women in Ghana, it is essential to understand the risk factors and develop targeted screening and treatment strategies to improve survival rates.

Source: 3News