In September, Australian supermodel and entrepreneur Elle Macpherson faced backlash for claiming in her new memoir that she had “healed through breast cancer” using holistic methods rather than conventional medicine.
Instead, she took a “holistic approach”, sharing on the 60 Minutes TV programme that her treatments involved “intravenous drips, dentistry, osteopaths, chiropractors and a lot of spiritual work”.
In an interview with the Australian Women’s Weekly, she said: “Saying no to standard medical solutions was the hardest thing I’ve ever done … People thought I was crazy but I knew I had to make a choice that truly resonated with me.”
Many doctors and other medical experts expressed concern that the model might encourage others with invasive breast cancer to resort to non-evidence-based therapies to fight the disease.
Breast Cancer Network Australia said that, while a healthy lifestyle – including good nutrition, exercise, and mental well-being – plays a role in cancer care, the organisation “advocates for the importance of accessing trusted, evidence-based information to guide treatment decisions”.