Elle Macpherson reveals ‘shock’ breast cancer diagnosis, refused chemotherapy from 32 doctors: ‘It was unexpected’
Elle Macpherson has revealed that she was diagnosed with breast cancer seven years ago and is now finally in remission.
The supermodel, 60, said she refused to undergo chemotherapy treatment — despite it being strongly recommended by 32 doctors.
In her upcoming memoir “Elle: Life, Lessons, and Learning to Trust Yourself,” the Aussie catwalk star said she took an entirely holistic approach to her diagnosis, a decision that was not received well by her loved ones.
Following her lumpectomy seven years ago, the WelleCo founder was diagnosed with HER2 positive Estrogen receptor (ER) positive ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) — a type of breast cancer.
“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,” she told Women’s Weekly about her diagnosis.
Her doctor recommended undergoing a mastectomy with radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and the reconstruction of her breast.
But Macpherson was not interested in undergoing chemo. Instead, she wanted to try out “an intuitive, heart-led, holistic approach.”
The model explained that going against doctors’ advice 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.”
“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 said, adding that chemo and surgery sounded “too extreme.”
Admitting that “people thought I was crazy,” Macpherson said her chosen treatment plan “resonated” with her, and allowed to her “address emotional as well as physical factors associated with breast cancer.”
During her treatment, the model — who appeared on “Friends” in 1999 — said she rented a house in Phoenix, Ariz., where she “holistically treated” her cancer.
She said the experience allowed her to “focus and devote every single minute to healing myself.”
While she’s now in “clinical remission,” her sons Flynn, 26, and Cy, 21, had mixed reactions about her decision to go against the advice of medical professionals.
