Elle Macpherson reveals secret cancer battle and explains why she refused chemotherapy
Elle Macpherson has opened up about her secret battle with cancer, and revealed that she refused chemotherapy despite the advice she received from 32 doctors
Supermodel Elle Macpherson has opened up about her secret battle with cancer.
The 60-year-old beauty revealed that she opted not to undergo chemotherapy treatment, despite the advice of 32 doctors.
Diagnosed with the disease in 2017, Elle chose to "trust the nature" of her body and follow her own "course of action".
The Australian icon confessed that she was taken aback by the diagnosis and detailed how she underwent a lumpectomy a procedure to remove cancerous tissues from the breast.
Elle was diagnosed with HER2-positive oestrogen-receptive intraductal carcinoma. Medical professionals recommended that the star undergo a mastectomy, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and breast reconstruction.
Elle was married at the time of her diagnosis and made a decision on her treatment path in February of 2017.
She expressed that she was being "true" to herself and placing trust in her own body.
The renowned model admits to praying and meditating on a Miami beach as she preferred to treat the condition with "an intuitive, heart-led holistic approach" rather than traditional medicine.
"It was a shock, it was unexpected," Elle disclosed to Women's Weekly. She went on to describe her feelings: "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."
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Elle further explained her choice: "Saying no to standard medical solutions was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. But saying no to my own inner sense would have been even harder."
She went on record stating that conventional treatments like chemotherapy and surgery felt too "extreme" for her needs.
"People thought I was crazy," she admitted, yet she found solace in a treatment plan that truly "resonated" with her beliefs.
As part of her crusade against the illness, Elle traveled to Phoenix, Arizona, for eight months where she committed to "holistically treating" her disease alongside guidance from an ensemble of health practitioners, including her own doctor, a naturopath, holistic dentist, osteopath, chiropractor, and two therapists.
While set on her chosen path to wellness, Elle acknowledged that her sons, Flynn, 26, and Cy, 21, had differing views on her decision. Her son Cy was in full agreement with his mother, perceiving chemotherapy as "a kiss of death" On the other hand, Flynn "wasn't comfortable" with her refusal of conventional treatment.
Reiterating her stance, she emphasizes, "Saying no to standard medical solutions was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. But saying no to my own inner sense would have been even harder."
Their father, Ardpad 'Arki' Busson, didn't agree with Elle's decision either, but he openly expressed how he was "proud" of the "courage" she was showing.
According to Cancer Research UK, while surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy are commonly used to treat cancer, some patients opt for complementary therapies to alleviate treatment side effects.
These can include acupuncture, aromatherapy, herbal medicine, massage therapy, yoga, and visualization. Elle's diagnosis came four years after a previous cancer scare.
