A Scoping Review of Burden, Impacts, and Challenges of Breast Cancer in Nigeria

Background: Breast cancer remains the leading cause of cancer incidence and mortality among women worldwide, with pronounced disparities in low- and middle-income countries. This review synthesizes current evidence on the global burden of breast cancer, with a specific focus on Nigeria, examining epidemiological trends, clinical impacts, socioeconomic challenges, and broader public health implications. Methods: A systematic literature review following PRISMA guidelines was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Frontiers, BMC, and African Journals Online (AJOL) from January 2005 to December 2025. Eligibility criteria included peer-reviewed articles and reports providing quantitative data on breast cancer burden, staging, treatment, survival, or challenges in Nigeria or comparative global contexts. Results: Results indicate that globally, breast cancer accounted for approximately 2.3 million new cases and 666,000 deaths in 2022. In Nigeria, estimates reached 32,278 new cases and 16,332 deaths, representing 40.5% of female cancers, with age-standardized incidence and mortality rates of 133.3 and 81.4 per 100,000, respectively among the highest in sub-Saharan Africa. Over 70–80% of cases present at advanced stages (III/IV), yielding 5-year survival rates of 32–44% versus over 90% in high-income settings. Key themes revealed late presentation driven by low awareness, limited screening infrastructure, financial toxicity (catastrophic health expenditure in >70% of patients), and inadequate multimodality treatment access. Economic impacts include household impoverishment and lost productivity, exacerbating gender inequities. Conclusion: In conclusion, Nigeria’s breast cancer burden reflects a confluence of epidemiological transition, systemic healthcare gaps, and socioeconomic barriers. Urgent, context-specific interventions strengthened early detection programs, expanded insurance coverage, and investment in radiotherapy and registries are required to mitigate mortality and align outcomes with global standards. Recommendations emphasize policy integration of breast cancer control into national health plans and multisectoral collaboration.