Sam Armytage slams newspaper that criticised her mammogram advice
Samantha Armytage has slammed The Age for publishing what she describes as “one of the most foolish opinion pieces (she has) ever encountered”.
The column, authored by a doctor, was written in response to Sam’s “misguided” advice that women at the age of 40 should be thinking about having a mammogram.
The Sunrise host recently underwent a mammogram for a segment on Channel Seven's breakfast show.
In the segment, she revealed she was called back for further testing following her initial screening, an experience she described as “very scary”.
“Immediately I thought the worst, as you tend to do. I had to do two more mammograms and an ultrasound... it was a very scary day. The test took five hours. Thankfully, I was given the all-clear,” Sam recalled.
Sam then resolves to have a mammogram every year, adding: “The number one thing I found out this week was that every doctor I saw said ‘I don't know why they're telling women to come in at 50, you girls should be coming in at 40 (for a mammogram)’.”
However, an opinion piece published on The Age on the weekend claimed Sam’s advice was “foolish” and “misguided”.
Penned by doctor and professor at the University of Sydney, Alexandra Barratt, the column stated: “Screening tests can lead to "overdiagnosis" - the detection of cancers that are so slow growing, they will never cause symptoms or death and are better left alone.”
Dr Barratt added: “Screening can turn healthy women... into cancer patients who have surgery and drug and radiation treatments for a harmless cancer.”
She wrote “screening healthy women in their 40s is more likely to harm than save lives” and advised women under the age of 50 to see a doctor if they notice changes in their breasts.
Taking to Instagram that same day, the 41-year-old presenter hit back, writing: “Appalling that The Age newspaper would print this.”
While Sam clarified that she “didn't want everyone to flood the health system”, she advised it was something that “at the age of 40, you should be starting to think about”.
She wrote: “Attacking me for encouraging women to have mammograms. Honestly... At NO POINT did I give medical advice.
“My breast cancer specialist told me she would like women to be checked from 40 onwards... And all of my statistics for this story concerning breast cancer came from Breast Screen NSW.'
“Appalling that The Age newspaper would print this,” Sam concluded.