Elle Macpherson refused chemotherapy despite advice from 32 doctors before 'holistic' cancer treatment

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YOKR: Elle Macpherson, the iconic Australian supermodel known for her radiant beauty and her role as Janine in 'Friends,' has shared a deeply personal and courageous chapter of her life.

In her newly released memoir, 'Elle,' the 60-year-old reveals she was diagnosed with breast cancer seven years ago, a moment that set her on a path of defiance against conventional medical wisdom.

Elle Macpherson reveals life-changing journey after cancer diagnosis

According to Metro, Macpherson’s journey began on a fateful Friday the 13th, when she underwent a lumpectomy and was diagnosed with HER2 positive oestrogen receptive intraductal carcinoma.

"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, reflecting on the moment her life changed forever.

Doctors urged her to undergo the standard treatment protocol: mastectomy with radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and breast reconstruction.

However, Macpherson, the founder of the wellness brand WelleCo, chose to take a different route, one that aligned with her holistic philosophy on health and wellness.

Turning down chemotherapy and the advice of 32 doctors, she embarked on what she described as an “intuitive, heart-led, holistic approach” to healing.

Macpherson’s decision was not made lightly. “It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life,” she admitted in her memoir. “But saying no to my own inner sense would have been even harder.”

Elle Macpherson defies medical advice of thirty two doctors, gets support from son Cy

In a soul-searching moment on a beach in Miami, she chose to follow her own path under the guidance of a primary doctor specializing in integrative medicine, which blends mind and body therapies with conventional care.

For Macpherson, this approach was about being true to herself, even if it meant going against the tide.

“Going against the advice of 32 doctors 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,’” she said.

Her decision to forgo traditional treatments was met with mixed emotions from those closest to her.

Her sons, Flynn, 19, and Cy, 14, struggled with her choice in their own ways. “Cy simply thought that chemo kills you. And so he never wanted me to do it because he thought that was a kiss of death,” she wrote, illustrating her younger son's fears.

Meanwhile, Flynn, who leans more towards conventional beliefs, was not entirely comfortable with her decision. Yet, as Elle poignantly notes, “He is my son, though, and would support me through anything and love me through my choices, even if he didn’t agree with them.”

Olivia Newton-John's friendship in Macpherson's journey 

Elle’s former partner and the father of her children, French hedge fund manager Arki Busson, was another pillar of support during her journey.

While he did not agree with her approach, he penned a heartfelt letter expressing his pride in her courage, even dubbing her actions as “extreme.”

Her holistic approach also found resonance in her friendship with the late Olivia Newton-John, who also explored a combination of treatments for her own breast cancer before her death.

Elle’s personal life has been as eventful as her health journey. Following her separation from Busson in 2005, she married hotel heir Jeffrey Soffer in 2013, but their union ended in divorce four years later.

More recently, she has been linked with Andrew Wakefield, the former doctor and controversial figure known for his discredited research linking the MMR vaccine to autism.

Wakefield, an anti-vaccine activist who moved to the United States after being banned from practicing medicine in the UK, has been a significant presence in her life.

Now in “clinical remission,” Elle Macpherson continues to live by her values, drawing strength from her holistic practices and the love of her family.