Supermodel Elle Macpherson has revealed that she secretly battled breast cancer seven years ago. She is now said to be in remission, despite refusing doctors’ recommendations to undergo chemotherapy. In her new book Life, Lessons, and Learning to Trust Yourself, she talked about her approach to the disease and how she managed to cope with the cruel diagnosis.
The Australian beauty, who took the modeling industry by storm more than forty years ago and was nicknamed “The Body” thanks to her perfect figure, also admitted in an interview with Woman’s Weekly that the diagnosis came as a shock to her.
“It was a shock, it was unexpected, it was confusing, it was daunting in many ways, but it gave me the opportunity to really dig deep into my inner self to find a solution. It worked for me,” said the model, who took a holistic approach to her illness, which was not only at odds with the 32 doctors with whom she consulted about the treatment process, but also her family did not agree with her decision to refuse chemotherapy.
After a lumpectomy, during which the affected tissue was removed from her breast seven years ago, the model was discovered to have HER2-positive breast cancer, after which Elle’s doctors recommended that she undergo a mastectomy with radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and breast reconstruction.
However, the model, who at the time was dating infamous anti-vaxxer Andrew Wakefield, decided to go against the traditional form of medicine and chose an individual path instead. Elle, who is also the only woman in the world to appear on the cover of the prestigious Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue five times, said she meditated on a beach in Miami and came to the conclusion that she did not want to treat her cancer with drugs, but rather with an intuitive, heart-led holistic approach.
“Saying no to standard medical procedures was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. But it would be even harder to say no to one’s own beliefs,” the model explained, adding that chemotherapy and surgery are too extreme in her opinion. She said people thought she was crazy at the time, but she continued with her treatment plan.
Elle reportedly rented a house in Phoenix, Arizona for eight months, where she received holistic treatment under the guidance of her general practitioner, a naturopathic doctor, a holistic dentist, an osteopath, a chiropractor and two therapists. The model is said to have stayed alone in the house and spent her days concentrating and dedicating every minute to her recovery.
While the model is now in remission, which she calls total wellness, her sons Flynn, 26, and Cy, 21, and ex-partner Arpad Busson, who is the father of her sons, have had mixed reactions to her unusual approach to the disease. The younger son is said to have fully supported her, as he believes that chemotherapy is the kiss of death, but the elder Flynn was not at all happy with her choice, but in the end he also supported her in her decisions. Arpad also reportedly disagreed, but wrote her a letter in which he wrote how proud he was of the courage she was showing in her fight against the disease.
