Aussie modelling icon Elle Macpherson says she ‘healed through’ breast cancer after outrage over treatment bombshell

Australian supermodel Elle Macpherson has made a bombshell claim on 60 Minutes about her cancer diagnosis, which prompted outrage when she revealed she refused conventional treatments.

Aussie supermodel Elle Macpherson says she “healed through” her breast cancer in a bombshell interview with 60 Minutes, after sparking outrage over revelations she rejected modern treatments in favour of a “holistic” approach.

Ms Macpherson, 60, sat down with Tracy Grimshaw on the program in a tell-all about the diagnosis, revealed in her new memoir.

She controversially claimed she had “healed through breast cancer” with the use of holistic treatments, despite admitting she had received two lumpectomy surgeries.

Asked if she believed she had “cured” her cancer, Ms Macpherson responded: “The word cure is a very interesting word.”

“No, I healed through breast cancer,” she told the program.

“I had a very formidable team that helped me through it.

Australian supermodel Elle Macpherson revealed in her memoir she rejected modern treatments for her breast cancer in favour of more “holistic” methods. Picture: Supplied / 60 Minutes

“So now I would, you know I’m clinically in remission, that’s words that you know most doctors would say.”

In the book, she recounts how she was diagnosed with breast cancer back in 2017.

The revelation prompted more outrage than sympathy after she also revealed she had opted not to follow conventional treatments to treat the cancer after undergoing lumpectomy surgeries on the advice of doctors.

The program did not address the backlash to her initial revelation.

Ms Macpherson’s doctors had also advised her to follow up with surgery to remove her breast, along with radiation, chemotherapy and hormone therapy treatments.

Ms Macpherson appeared on 60 Minutes discussing the diagnosis, denying her decision was a “vanity choice” when she revealed she rejected the advice of 32 other doctors. Picture: Supplied / 60 Minutes

Ms Macpherson said she rejected these conventional treatments – and went against the advice of 32 other doctors.

Instead, she decided on a “holistic” approach under the guidance of two doctors based in Phoenix, Arizona.

Her treatments included natural medications through “intravenous drips, dentistry, osteopaths, chiropractors and a lot of spiritual work”.

“I think if I have a choice of losing my life or losing my breasts, I think I would choose to lose the breasts,” Ms Macpherson told the program.

“That was the alternative that I was given.”

Ms Macpherson claims she is now in remission and said her decision was based on what had resonated with her for the last 20 years, denying it was a “vanity” choice.

“I had been really looking at the body in a holistic way, so looking at emotional, mental, spiritual and physical wellbeing,” she explained.

The specific type of cancer Ms Macpherson was diagnosed with is called HER2-positive oestrogen-receptive intraductal carcinoma.

Between 15-20 per cent of all breast cancers are considered HER2 positive, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Elle Macpherson was nicknamed ‘The Body’ after rising to prominence in the 1980s for her magazine cover appearances. Picture: Supplied / 60 Minutes

Ms Macpherson told the program she “healed through” her breast cancer. Picture: Supplied / 60 Minutes

During her second lumpectomy treatment, Ms Macpherson was told she had “no clear margins” – meaning there was a risk she may still have cancer cells.

She rejected options to have surgery to remove her breast.

Ms Macpherson’s revelations were met with criticism from fellow cancer survivors including Kellie Hush, the former editor-in-chief of Harper’s BAZAAR Australia.

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki on Thursday compared Ms Macpherson’s treatment to a “lottery”.

“She chose to go in a lottery where she had a one in 20 chance of having bad things happen,” Dr Kruszelnicki told WSFM’s Jonesy and Amanda program.

“And luckily, the 19 out of 20 worked in her favour, and she was lucky.

“But ask yourself this, if one in 20 cups of coffee was poisoned, would you drink coffee? No.

“So she went into a lottery, and she came out well. Not everybody will. Nineteen will and one will die.”

Originally published as Aussie modelling icon Elle Macpherson says she ‘healed through’ breast cancer after outrage over treatment bombshell