Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women of all ages and races in the country. In light of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we sit down with the team from MAMI to discuss their mission to change the story around breast health.
Also see: Breast Cancer Awareness Month: What South African women need to know about mammograms
For Zizipho Sakati, who was diagnosed in 2024 at the age of 31, cancer was spotted early, treatment started soon after, and today, she’s free of any cancer.
Speaking to Samantha ‘Sam’ Schoub, a mother of two, co-founder and chief operating officer at Melrose Arch Mammography Inc (MAMI), early detection of breast cancer saves lives, as it can be treated before it spreads.
“Part of our services at MAMI include mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies, cryoablation, response to chemo measurements and holistic wellness support, among others,” she shares.
For Sakati, the thought of cancer has always been at the back of her mind as she lost her mother to melanoma when she was just 11 years old.
“It’s always been a distant thought, but never did I think I’d have breast cancer, especially that young,” she says.
When she discovered a lump in her breast, she tried to avoid thinking it would go away, but it didn’t. Instead, it grew, and there was no ignoring it. Sam adds that at MAMI, their mission is to change the story around breast health — from one of fear and avoidance to one of empowerment, presence, and proactive care.
“Our specialised breast centre in the heart of Johannesburg is more than a mammography unit; it’s a sanctuary where medical excellence meets soul-centred support,” describes Sam.
Meet the specialist
MAMI is led by Dr Peter Schoub, a pioneer in breast radiology and a driving force behind advanced, patient-first approaches. His interests lie in breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and image-guided breast procedures.
Having started in rural Mpumalanga in the early 2000s, Dr Schoub says being one of the few doctors on site at the time made him appreciate the many fields that make up medical practice.
“I realised that radiology would give me access to patients of all ages, and many different diseases. It’s a multifaceted field that combines technology with problem-solving.” He notes that for him, it meant that he’s in an ever-developing career of cutting-edge technology advances.
Dr Schoub testifies that most women diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of it.
“Frequently it shows no outward signs, for example, no palpable lumps. However, if picked up early, over 90% of breast cancers can be effectively treated,” he says, emphasising that early detection is the key to saving lives. Dr Schoub advises that mammograms be had every year.
“This allows the radiologist to compare the pictures each year and detect the earliest changes,” he says.
At MAMI, mammograms are followed by a breast ultrasound during a patient’s visit. This is a measure taken to ensure that they practically catch all cancers that may be in a person.
“Some women have denser (thicker) breast tissue, in which case the mammogram picture may be difficult to interpret,” he details. “Ultrasound penetrates that dense tissue, helping us to exclude any hidden cancers.”
According to Dr Schoub, an ultrasound penetrates the dense tissue, helping him and his team find any hidden cancers. “At our practice, we remain part of the patient’s journey – from detection and diagnosis to monitoring of treatment, localisation for the surgeon and follow-up after treatment,” he says.
Cryoablation
With their advocacy for early detection, MAMI established their cryoablation program in 2020, and to date, the centre has performed over 90 successful procedures. So, what is this procedure?
Cryoablation is a less invasive procedure using cold to freeze and get rid of abnormal tissues and small tumours. According to Dr Schoub, this procedure is intended to offer an alternative to lumpectomy.
“The zone of ice that surrounds the tumour cannot be bigger than 4cm, and we need to create a safe margin around the tumour to ensure complete cancer destruction. Therefore, the maximum size of tumour suitable for cryoablation is 2cm,” he explains.
Furthermore, he notes that the tumour cannot be in contact ot too close to the skin or nipple – it has to be stage 1 cancer. “We generally select older patients who would not ordinarily need sentinel lymph node biopsy or radiation,” says Dr Schoub. Cryoablation offers the same survival and rate of recurrence as conventional surgeries; the upside is that it’s an outpatient procedure.
Patients diagnosed with breast cancer, depending on their eligibility for cryoablation, go through the process of measuring their tumour’s size and accessibility before starting the process.
“Most patients will start with a course of hormone blockers for 3 – 6 months to make the tumour as small as possible before freezing it. The cryoablation procedure itself takes roughly an hour,” Dr Schoub details, adding that patients go home immediately after cryoablation. A few days post the procedure, patients can resume their normal activities.
Also see: Breast cancer myths: 15 common claims and the truth
Holistic health
After years of doing it all as the perfect wife, the perfect mom and climbing the corporate ladder, Sam’s health came crumbling down on her, something she realised would take more than just a prescription; she needed to look within. This led to the start of Wellness Within.
“After struggling with persistent gut issues that left me searching for answers,” Sam details. “I discovered that healing wasn’t about one treatment or one specialist. It was about understanding the connection between the mind and body, learning to manage stress, addressing nutrition, processing emotions and taking a more holistic approach to my health. Wellness Within was born from the belief that true health begins within.”
While MAMI focuses on the medical side of things, breast cancer-related, post- and during the treatment process, patients have the opportunity to join the Wellness Within programme. According to Sam, Wellness Within recognises the connection between the mind and body.
She says, “Lasting health is shaped not only by the care we receive, but also by how we think, process emotions, manage stress and care for ourselves every day.”
Wellness Within’s free online hub offers expert insights and empowers them to take ownership of their health.
Awareness
Wellness Within is among MAMI’s efforts to raise awareness around breast cancer, coupled with that are corporate wellness days, women’s health events and Dr Schoub’s media appearances.
“Today, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime, yet medical aid data shows that only 20% of insured members make use of their screening benefit. We continue to encourage women to prioritise early detection,” Sam emphasises.
MAMI strives to offer comfort to its patients. With the mindset that a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment process can be emotionally and mentally draining, the centre’s interior is designed to promote relaxation, eliminating the standardised look of a hospital.
“We believe the patient experience begins long before the scan itself. Every detail was intentionally designed to feel calm, warm and welcoming. We want women to walk into a space that feels more like a wellness destination than a medical facility, without ever compromising on clinical excellence,” concludes Sam.
Featured image: iStock/stefanamer
Also see: Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Signs women and men shouldn’t ignore
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