Elle Macpherson defends 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 received since revealing she was diagnosed with breast cancer seven years ago, but defied some doctors’ advice by recovering without chemotherapy or drugs.
“Just to be clear, I sought a lot of medical advice,” she told the newspaper. “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 there either [were] in any case, there are no guarantees,” she continued. “So I just made a decision based on all the information I gathered and what felt right.”
Macpherson said she is “really pleased” that her decision has sparked a conversation because it can lead to greater awareness and growth.
“It is important to note that I do not give advice to other people. I am sharing my experience,” she said on the show.
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Elle Macpherson.
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Elle Macpherson reveals breast cancer journey 7 years after diagnosis: ‘Scary in so many ways’
Macpherson first spoke about her decision on September 2 during an interview with Australian Women’s Weeklystating that her diagnosis came as a “shock” and was “terrifying” to navigate.
The supermodel explained that her doctor called her after she had a lumpectomy and told her it was HER2-positive estrogen-responsive intraductal carcinoma, a type of breast cancer. Macpherson was then advised to undergo cancer treatment, including a mastectomy and chemotherapy.
Despite her alarm, she said the diagnosis “gave me the opportunity … to find a solution that works for me” and opted for a “holistic approach” to her further treatment without chemotherapy or drugs.
“I realized that I would need my own truth, my own belief system to support me in that. 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 way I chose to act.”
In his new book of the same name Ellathe model — who is currently in remission — writes of her decision to seek treatment: “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 would really resonate with me,” Macpherson continues in the book. “For me, that meant dealing with the emotional as well as physical factors associated with breast cancer … and that took courage.”
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education