Elle Macpherson Defends Decision to Refuse Chemotherapy, Take Holistic Approach After Breast Cancer Diagnosis

“There was no clear path and there [were] no guarantees either way,” the supermodel, 60, said

 

Elle Macpherson is defending her decision to treat her cancer holistically.

On September 9, the 60-year-old supermodel appeared on Australia’s Today show and responded to the criticism she’s gotten since revealing she was diagnosed with breast cancer seven years ago but went against some doctors’ advice by recovering without chemotherapy or pharmaceuticals.

“Just to be clear, I sought a lot of medical advice,” she told the outlet. “It was very interesting, because every doctor has a different opinion on how to treat my specific case of breast cancer.”

“There was no clear path and there [were] no guarantees either way,” she continued. “So, I just made a decision based on all the information that I gathered and what felt right for me.”

Macpherson said she’s “really pleased” that her decision has sparked conversation because it can lead to more awareness and growth.

“It’s important to mention that I’m not giving advice to other people. I’m sharing my experience,” she said on the show.

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Macpherson first spoke about her decision on September 2 during an interview with Australian Women’s Weekly, sharing that her diagnosis came as a “shock” and was “daunting” to navigate.

The supermodel explained that a doctor called her after she had a lumpectomy and told her it was HER2 positive estrogen receptive intraductal carcinoma, which is a type of breast cancer, per the outlet. Macpherson was then advised to undergo cancer treatment, including a mastectomy and chemotherapy.

Despite her alarm, she said the diagnosis “gave me an opportunity … to find a solution that worked for me” and she opted for a “holistic approach” to her further treatment without chemotherapy or pharmaceuticals.

“I realized I was going to need my own truth, my belief system to support me through it. And that’s what I did,” she said. “So, it 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.”

In her new self-titled book Elle, the model — who is currently in remission from the disease — writes about her treatment decision: “Saying no to standard medical solutions was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

“People thought I was crazy. But I knew I had to make a choice that truly resonated with me,” Macpherson continues in the book. “To me, that meant addressing emotional as well as physical factors associated with breast cancer … and that took courage.”

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