An Artificial Intelligence Model for Early Stage Breast Cancer Detection from Biopsy Images

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020, making it the most diagnosed cancer worldwide and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women (WHO, 2021). The incidence of breast cancer is rising by around 3% per year, with higher mortality rates observed in lower-income countries due to limited access to early screening and treatment. In wealthier nations, 1 in 12 women are diagnosed with breast cancer, whereas in lower-income countries, the rate is 1 in 27. More concerning is the disparity in mortality--1 in 48 women die from breast cancer in low-income countries compared to 1 in 71 in high-income countries (WHO, 2022). In sub-Saharan Africa, breast cancer now has the highest mortality rate among all cancers affecting women, surpassing cervical cancer.