Australian supermodel Elle Macpherson has revealed that years ago she battled breast cancer in secret—and now she's in remission after refusing chemotherapy and opting for a more holistic approach.
Macpherson is credited with being Australia's first-ever supermodel. Thanks to her impressive figure, she is often referred to as "The Body." The moniker was first bestowed on her in 1989, when she appeared on the cover of Time magazine, and it has stuck ever since.
Now a businesswoman, television host and actress, in her soon-to-be-published memoir, Life, Lessons, and Learning to Trust Yourself, the model discloses that she approached her cancer diagnosis holistically, against the recommendations of medical professionals.
In the chapter "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff," she explained that she kept her diagnosis a secret for seven years and shared how she underwent treatment. She also expanded on her decision to follow her instincts during an interview with Women's Weekly.
Newsweek emailed a spokesperson for Macpherson for comment on Tuesday.
"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 the publication about her cancer diagnosis.
"I realized I was going to need my own truth, my belief system to support me through it. And that's what I did. 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."
The businesswoman was diagnosed with HER2-positive estrogen-receptive intraductal cancer seven years ago following a lumpectomy. A lumpectomy is a surgical procedure that removes a breast tumor and some surrounding tissue.
To treat the cancer, Macpherson's doctor advised that she have a mastectomy, along with hormone therapy, radiation, chemotherapy and breast reconstruction. The model contemplated what she should do for multiple weeks, even consulting with 32 physicians and specialists to help her decide.
Ultimately, Macpherson rejected conventional medicine. She is well-known for her holistic approach to wellness, often incorporating cold plunges, infrared saunas and meditation into her daily routine.
Macpherson wrote: "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.
"Sometimes an authentic choice from the heart makes no sense to others ... but it doesn't have to. People thought I was crazy but I knew I had to make a choice that truly resonated with me. To me, that meant addressing emotional as well as physical factors associated with breast cancer. It was time for deep, inner reflection. And that took courage."
In her book, Macpherson revealed that she "holistically treated" her cancer for eight months while renting a home in Phoenix, Arizona, with the help of her primary doctor, a naturopathic doctor, a holistic dentist, an osteopath, a chiropractor and two therapists. She said she "devoted every single minute of her days to healing myself."
When asked how her health is now, she told Women's Weekly: "In traditional terms, they'd say I'm in clinical remission, but I would say I'm in utter wellness. And I am!
"Truly, from every perspective, every blood test, every scan, every imaging test ... but also emotionally, spiritually and mentally—not only physically. It's not only what your blood tests say, it's how and why you are living your life on all levels."
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