Elle Macpherson reveals secret breast cancer and alcohol battles

Elle Macpherson is embroiled in controversy after revealing her secret battle with breast cancer seven years ago and why she opted for “holistic” treatment.

Supermodel Elle Macpherson is copping backlash for being “irresponsible” after revealing she chose to treat her breast cancer with a “holistic approach” against the advice of 32 doctors.

Macpherson, 60, revealed for the first time she fought a secret battle with breast cancer seven years ago in her memoir, Elle.

The Aussie wrote about undergoing a lumpectomy when she was 53 years old, where the surgery revealed she had a HER2 positive oestrogen receptive intraductal carcinoma.

While Macpherson’s doctor advised her to have a mastectomy (surgery to remove her breast) and reconstruction, along with radiation, chemotherapy and hormone therapy, Macpherson rejected the medical advice.

Instead, the supermodel opted for a “holistic approach” to treat the breast cancer.

Supermodel Elle Macpherson at the Melbourne Fashion Festival. Picture: Jason Edwards

“Saying no to standard medical solutions was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life,” Macpherson wrote, in an exclusive extract that was published in the Australian Women’s Weekly.

“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,” she continued.

“To me, that meant addressing emotional as well as physical factors associated with breast cancer.”

Elle Macpherson opted not to follow medical advice after she was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 53. Picture: Supplied

Macpherson’s decision to reject conventional medicine has been blasted online.

Taking to X, one user wrote: “I have always been interested in complimentary health. But … it infuriates me just how much so many people are brainwashed into thinking that if you refuse drug treatment you will be miraculously cured”.

Another labelled the decision “shockingly irresponsible” and added, “She was lucky that clearly the lumpectomy removed all the cancerous cells and it hadn’t spread, but implying she ‘cured’ cancer holistically is reckless beyond belief.”

Dr David Robert Grimes, a cancer researcher with nearly 30k followers on X, said: “Incredibly irresponsible from Elle Macpherson: Holistic therapy is NOT valid treatment for breast cancer. So entitled that a multi-millionaire with access to best healthcare advises women to ignore medical advice. Ample evidence this bulls--t kills people.”

Elle Macpherson and son Arpad “Flynn” Alexander Busson attend the Christian Dior Haute Couture Fall Winter show as part of Paris Fashion Week. Picture: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images For Christian Dior

Macpherson’s decision also caused tension within her family, with her eldest son Flynn, 26, saying he “wasn’t comfortable”.

The WelleCo businesswoman shares Flynn and Cy, 21, with her former partner, Arpad Busson.

“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,” Macpherson wrote.

“Flynn, being more conventional, wasn’t comfortable with my choice at all. 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.”

The supermodel said she did seek advice from Olivia Newton-John, who had her own lengthy battle with breast cancer and died in August 2022.

“Yes, we spoke a few times when I was diagnosed and also through both of our healing journeys,” Macpherson said.

“We did things differently, but we did share experiences with each other and how we feel and how we approach things.”

Australian Supermodel, Elle MacPherson, has revealed her secret breast cancer battle. Picture: Supplied

Macpherson lived in Phoenix, Arizona, for eight months during her treatment.

She had several specialists, including a primary doctor, a doctor of naturopathy, holistic dentist, osteopath, chiropractor and two therapists.

The supermodel happily shared she is in remission from the cancer.

Supermodel Elle Macpherson at the Melbourne Fashion Festival. Picture: Jason Edwards

Recently Macpherson appeared on Carrie Bickmore and Tommy Little’s radio show, Carrie & Tommy, and revealed she had given up alcohol 20 years ago after a stint in rehab.

“I couldn’t even identify it because Aussie drinking is part of our culture. I was not messy at all, I was very organised, in fact, I was a highly-functioning, controlled drinker,” she said.

“I couldn’t really put two and two together because for me an alcoholic was someone that was living on the streets or drinking in the morning but what I found is any addiction – or anything that we do over and over again that is self-damaging – can be detrimental to us. We are continuing to do things that may be self-harming.”

Macpherson said she had no regrets giving up alcohol.

Originally published as Elle Macpherson reveals secret breast cancer and alcohol battles