Elle Macpherson has revealed she was secretly diagnosed with cancer seven years ago and has explained why she refused chemotherapy, despite being offered the treatment from 32 doctors.
The Australian supermodel, 60, explained in her newly released memoir that she decided not to treat her breast cancer with the usual medical methods.
After receiving a lumpectomy seven years ago on Friday 13th, the WelleCo founder was diagnosed with HER2 positive oestrogen receptive intraductal carcinoma.
‘It was a shock, it was unexpected, it was confusing, it was daunting in so many ways and it really gave me an opportunity to dig deep in my inner sense to find a solution that worked for me,’ Elle said of the diagnosis to Women’s Weekly.
Her doctor recommended Elle undergo a mastectomy with radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and the reconstruction of her breast in order to get rid of the cancer.
Elle – known for her holistic approach to health and wellbeing – explained how going against the advice of 32 doctors was a ‘wonderful exercise in being true to myself, trusting myself and trusting the nature of my body and the course of action that I had chosen’.
After meditating on a beach in Miami Ellie concluded that she could attempt to treat her cancer with a ‘intuitive, heart-led, holistic approach’ under the guidance of her primary doctor who specialises in integrative medicine – which often combines mind and body therapies with conventional medical care.
She wrote in her book that saying no to pharmaceutical treatment was ‘the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life’ adding: ‘But saying no to my own inner sense would have been even harder.’
Admitting people thought she was ‘crazy’, Elle said she had to stick by a choice that fully resonated with her.
Breast cancer treatment
If you have breast cancer, the recommended course of treatment by the NHS is usually surgery.
Other recommended treatments include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, treatment with hormones (hormone therapy), and targeted medicines and immunotherapy.
While Elle is now in ‘clinical remission’ her sons – Flynn, 19, and Cy, 14 – had mixed emotions towards their mum’s decision not to choose the standard medical treatments.
She wrote: ‘Cy simply thought that chemo kills you. And so he never wanted me to do it because he thought that was a kiss of death.
Flynn, being more conventional, wasn’t comfortable with my choice at all. He is my son, though, and would support me through anything and love me through my choices, even if he didn’t agree with them.’
Her former partner and father of her children, French hedge fund manager Arki Busson, was ‘really supportive’ and wrote her a letter saying how proud he was of her courage, even though he didn’t agree with her actions, dubbing them ‘extreme’.
Elle – who appeared in Friends as Janine in 1999 – discussed holistic practices with Olivia-Newton Johnbefore the Grease star’s death, as the late actress also used a combination of treatments for her breast cancer.
After Arki and Elle separated in 2005 she married hotel heir Jeffrey Soffer in 2013 and they divorced four years later.
Since then she has also been linked with former doctor Andrew Wakefield, who was banned from practising medicine in the UK in 2010 and subsequently moved to America.
Wakefield is an anti-vaccine activist who presented the now-discredited research claiming the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine led to autism.
Macmillan cancer support
If you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with cancer, Macmillan can offer support and information.
You can contact their helpline on 0808 808 00 00 (7 days a week from 8am to 8pm), use their webchat service, or visit their site for more information.
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