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REVIEW ARTICLE

Prostate and breast cancers in Africa: Prevalence, risk factors, and molecular overview against the background of the world population

Charles Nguli Kimwele1 ,  Catherine Kaingu Kaluwa1 ,  Albert Wafula Nyongesa1 ,  Jakub Piecuch2 ,  Małgorzata Kotula-Balak3 ,  Dorota Gil4 ,  Marta Zarzycka4*
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1 Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
2 Chair of Economy and Food Economy, Faculty of Agriculture and Economy, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Mickiewicza , Krakow, Poland
3 Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
4 Chair of Medical Biochemistry, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
CP, 026120016 https://doi.org/10.36922/CP026120016
Received: 16 March 2026 | Revised: 30 June 2026 | Accepted: 2 July 2026 | Published online: 21 July 2026
© 2026 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
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Abstract

Currently, cancer represents an escalating public health crisis in Africa, ranking as the continent’s fifth leading cause of mortality. According to recent GLOBOCAN 2022 estimates, approximately 1.15 million new cancer cases and 754,500 deaths occurred across Africa in that year alone. On a global scale, there were an estimated 20 million new cases and 9.7 million deaths in 2022, with a disproportionate burden falling on underserved regions. Low- and middle-income countries are projected to account for nearly 75% of global cancer deaths, highlighting a stark geographical inequity in access to timely diagnosis and comprehensive care. This review provides an inclusive presentation of the two most prevalent reproductive malignancies in Africa: prostate cancer in men and breast cancer in women. Set against the backdrop of the continent’s unique socioeconomic landscape, the article explores the complex interplay of prevalence and risk factors, ranging from genetic and phenotypic predispositions to environmental and epigenetic influences. Recognizing the diverse healthcare landscape in Africa, this work addresses the accessibility of conventional medicine while evaluating the supervised integration of potential herbal agents as complementary therapies. This review identifies barriers to effective disease management and discusses the current and future cancer burden across the African continent for non-specialist readers and those seeking to understand oncological care in Africa. Ultimately, the findings underscore an urgent need for targeted policy-making and strategic investment in prevention. Prioritizing timely screening and strengthening treatment infrastructure are essential steps for authorities to mitigate the surging cancer burden and maintain the health of African populations.

Graphical abstract
Keywords
Africa
Breast cancer
Sex hormone signaling
Unconventional cancer medicine
Prostate cancer
Funding
This work was supported by a grant for scientific activation from the Rector of UA to MK-B (grant no.:A 818/2024).
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
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