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Researchers from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and partner institutions investigated how Global Health Status (GHS) changes over time among breast cancer survivors in sub-Saharan Africa and identified key factors that influence recovery and well-being. The findings are published in the July 2026 issue of the International Journal of Cancer and featured on the cover of the issue.
GHS was lowest in the first 6 months after diagnosis but improved gradually thereafter. GHS increased with increasing education level, breast cancer awareness, surgical treatment, family support, and maintaining pre-diagnosis employment. In contrast, GHS decreased with increasing age at diagnosis, rural residence, advanced tumour stage at diagnosis, and having non-HIV comorbidities. GHS was not affected by HIV status. It was higher during COVID-19 lockdowns than before or after lockdown. These patterns were similar at younger and older ages and in the short and long term.
The researchers used data from the African Breast Cancer – Disparities in Outcomes (ABC-DO) study and analysed responses of almost 1400 women in Namibia, Nigeria, Uganda, and Zambia who were asked to self-report their overall health during the previous week on a seven-point scale. The mean age of the women was 50 years, the median follow-up time was 3 years, and a median of 18 GHS assessments per woman were completed.
The potentially modifiable factors associated with GHS are known to influence breast cancer survival in sub-Saharan Africa. Addressing them could improve survivorship and breast cancer survival in the region.
Mohammed S, Galukande M, Naamala A, Parham G, Pinder L, Anele A, et al.
Longitudinal changes in health-related quality of life after a breast cancer diagnosis in sub-Saharan Africa: evidence from the prospective ABC-DO cohort
Int J Cancer. Published online 29 January 2026;
https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.70350
