Elle Macpherson reveals ‘surprising’ cancer diagnosis and how she refused chemotherapy from 32 doctors: ‘It was unexpected’
Elle Macpherson has revealed she was diagnosed with breast cancer seven years ago and is now finally in remission.
The 60-year-old supermodel said she refused to undergo chemotherapy treatment – even though 32 doctors strongly recommended it.
In her upcoming memoir “Elle: Life, Lessons, and Learning to Trust Yourself,” the Australian catwalk star said she took a completely holistic approach to her diagnosis, a decision that was not received well by her loved ones.
The Welleco founder was diagnosed with HER2-positive estrogen receptor (ER)-positive ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) — a type of breast cancer — following a lumpectomy seven years ago.
“It was a shock, it was unexpected, it was confusing, it was scary in so many ways and it made me really look deep inside myself to find a solution for myself,” she told Woman’s Weekly of her diagnosis.
Her doctor recommended a mastectomy with radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and breast reconstruction.
But McPherson wasn’t interested in undergoing chemotherapy. Instead, she wanted to try “an intuitive, heart-driven, holistic approach.”
The model explained that going against doctors’ advice was “an amazing exercise in being true to myself, trusting myself, and trusting the nature of my body and the course of action I choose to take.”
“Rejecting standard medical solutions was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. But rejecting my own inner feelings would have been even harder,” he said. He added that chemo and surgery seemed “too daunting.”
Admitting that “people thought I was crazy,” McPherson said the treatment plan she chose “impacted” her, and gave her the opportunity to “address the emotional and physical factors associated with breast cancer.”
The model — who appeared on “Friends” in 1999 — said that during her treatment she rented a house in Phoenix, Arizona, where she underwent “holistic treatment” for her cancer.
He said the experience allowed him to “focus and dedicate every single minute to healing myself.”
Though she is now in a state of “clinical remission,” her sons Flynn, 26, and Cy, 21, had mixed reactions to her decision to go against the advice of medical professionals.
“Sy thought chemotherapy was death. So he never wanted me to do it because he thought it was the kiss of death,” she said, adding that her eldest son had a different perspective.
She added, “Flynn, being more traditional, was not at all comfortable with my choices. However, he is my son and will support me in anything and love me for my choices, even if he doesn’t agree with them.”
