Breast cancer cases across Sub-Saharan Africa have risen dramatically by 247% over the past three decades, with Nigeria carrying the heaviest burden, according to Professor Emmanuel Ezeome, a surgical oncologist at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Speaking at the Roche Breast Cancer Summit 2025 held in Lagos on Wednesday, Prof. Ezeome described the rise in incidence as “alarming.” The two-day summit, themed “United by Unique: Advancing Breast Cancer Care in Nigeria”, brought together healthcare professionals and policymakers to address the growing cancer crisis.
Citing recent findings from the British Medical Journal based on Global Burden of Disease data, Ezeome noted, “Breast cancer has been increasing at an alarming rate, rising by 247%, from over 28,000 to more than 83,000 new cases, particularly in Nigeria and most of Sub-Saharan Africa.
“However, in Nigeria, it rose from 24.9 to 38.2 cases per 1,000, representing a 296% increase,” he added.
Deaths also on the rise
Prof. Ezeome further highlighted that breast cancer-related deaths across Africa have grown by 184%, with Nigeria seeing the sharpest increase. The country’s age-standardised mortality rate has risen from 19.3 to 26.9 per 1,000, marking a 22–23% rise.
He attributed the surge in both incidence and mortality to increasing life expectancy, an ageing population, and evolving lifestyle patterns. He stressed the importance of early detection and prompt treatment, noting that both institutional and patient-related delays significantly worsen survival outcomes.
“Strengthening the National Cancer Registry is essential to provide accurate statistics that can inform policy and guide interventions,” Ezeome said.
NICRAT calls for improved care and awareness
Professor Usman Malami, Director-General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), also addressed the summit through Prof. Musa Ali-Gombe, Director of Clinical Services at NICRAT. He acknowledged ongoing gaps in awareness, early detection, treatment, and palliative care services.
“Although initiatives like the ‘Big October campaign’ and social media awareness drives have raised visibility, screening rates remain low,” Prof. Ali-Gombe remarked.
He added that NICRAT is working to broaden access to care and introduce innovative treatment solutions, including advanced surgical methods and new therapies. Partnerships with stakeholders, he said, were vital to breaking financial barriers and fostering community participation.
Call for stronger health systems and insurance coverage
Dr Ladi Hameed, General Manager of Roche Nigeria, stressed the need to scale up breast cancer treatment in response to Nigeria’s growing population and cancer burden. He underscored the value of health insurance schemes to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for patients.
He also praised the impact of Roche’s cancer drugs in improving survival rates over the last twenty years.
“The African Breast Cancer Ambition, now tailored locally as the Nigerian Breast Cancer Ambition, is a vital initiative to address this growing burden,” Hameed said.
He urged that equipping hospitals, training health professionals, and modernising laboratory infrastructure for breast cancer care could serve as a model for managing other cancer types across the continent.