The Importance of Promoting Early Diagnosis of Breast Cancer in Resource-Limited Settings in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Abstract

Cancer survival is particularly poor in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where patients affected by cancer are more likely to die compared with other parts of the world [1]. Breast cancer accounts for 24% of cancer-related death among women in SSA [1]. Approximately half of these deaths affect women younger than 50 years, and each death in this age group results in an average of 2.1 maternal orphans. This intergenerational effect has consequences beyond the immediate family because women are the cornerstone in many African communities.