Last week, an interview with model Elle Macpherson in the Australian magazine Women’s Weekly on the occasion of the launch of her memoir (She)sparked a global controversy.
The 60-year-old model and businesswoman, who in the 1990s was one of the most sought-after models in the world, explained in this interview how she was diagnosed with breast cancer seven years ago. This unexpected news, as is always the case, initially plunged her into worry. No fewer than 32 doctors recommended chemotherapy, but after careful consideration, she decided to reject this therapy, widely supported by science, and to replace it with “an intuitive, holistic and heart-guided approach (…). Saying no to standard medical solutions was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. But saying no to my own intuition would have been even harder,” MacPherson said in the interview.
Today, the model claims that her cancer is in “clinical remission,” a concept that does not necessarily imply that the cancer is completely cured, but rather that the most striking symptoms or signs of the disease have disappeared or that there is no visible evidence of it. the same, although there is always a risk that cancer cells remain undetected.
In making these revelations, Macpherson joins a controversial list of famous people who, in recent years, have declared, more or less publicly, their rejection of the conventional, but well-proven, forms of treatment of modern medicine. Added to this are cases such as that of Steve Jobs, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2011, or that of Olivia Newton-John, who died in 2022 of breast cancer also treated with an alternative approach.
Macpherson acknowledges in the interview that after her diagnosis, she reached out to Newton-John, though the actress didn’t exactly follow the same path she did. “Yes, we talked a number of times when I was diagnosed and also throughout our respective healing journeys,” she told Women’s Weekly. “We did things differently, but we shared our experiences, how we were feeling and how we were approaching things.”
An approach rejected by science
As could not be otherwise, these statements by Macpherson have warned health professionals, associations of doctors, patients and other actors involved in the fight against cancer, because of the danger of publicly scorning and using a huge media impact, the therapies that save millions of people every year.
“I think this type of news is very damaging,” says Sonia del Barco, a doctor at the Breast Cancer and Brain Tumor Unit of the Catalan Institute of Oncology and a member of the GEICAM Breast Cancer Research Group and the Scientific Committee of the INVI association. “Breast cancer is not a single pathology, but rather many diseases. Not all types of breast tumors are the same. We do not know who suffered from this model, but this type of statement greatly harms the work that oncologists do every day, and not only oncologists, but all the research and all the studies that support the benefits of treatments.”
The doctor points out that breast cancer is considered a systemic disease and that it is therefore important to take into account the age of the patient, the size of the tumor, whether or not there is axillary involvement and whether she is a candidate for hormonal treatment or directed biological therapies, etc. “In all cases, therapy must be individualized,” he says.
The message is very unfavourable to the population and only transmits uncertainty to patients who receive this type of treatment which really increases their chances of recovery.
Cesar A. Rodriguez
— President of the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM)
All the experts contacted for this article agree on this point. “She Macpherson was surely diagnosed with localized breast cancer and probably had surgery,” explains Dr. Elías López, a radiation oncologist who works in the patient care department of the Spanish Association Against Cancer. “Following the result, some treatments would be proposed. “In breast cancers that we consider to have a high risk of relapse, chemotherapy is recommended to reduce this risk.”
Chemotherapy has also made great progress in recent years. Today, there are many types of treatments that have been clearly demonstrated, through extensive clinical trials, to play a decisive role in reducing the risk of relapse. “It is true that the use of chemotherapy is becoming less frequent in some types of breast cancer, but its effectiveness has nevertheless been proven in many subtypes,” explains César A. Rodríguez, president of the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology of Breast Cancer (SÉOM).
“And not only chemotherapy, but also the new biological therapies that are emerging. The message transmitted by these types of statements in favor of abandoning therapies is very unfavorable to the population and only transmits uncertainty to patients who receive these types of treatments that really increase their chances of recovery,” adds Rodríguez.
“Every time a treatment is proposed to the patient, the oncologist has already assessed the balance between risks and benefits,” explains Elías López. “It would never be proposed if the benefits did not outweigh the risks incurred. However, there is no scientific evidence that holistic or natural treatments such as yoga or meditation have an effect on reducing the risk of relapse.
“If 32 oncologists recommended the same type of treatment, it is unlikely that they would all be wrong,” del Barco acknowledges.
If 32 oncologists recommended the same type of treatment, it is unlikely that they would all be wrong.
Sonia del Barco
— Doctor of the Breast Cancer and Brain Tumors Unit of the Catalan Institute of Oncology
A relatively unusual decision
Are there many people who follow the path of the Australian model? The spokesperson for AECC Patient Care says that fortunately, no. Although the number is not negligible either. López dares to affirm that between 5 and 10% of patients refuse to follow the proposed treatment, but he makes an important reservation. “Receiving a diagnosis of localized breast cancer that can be eliminated by surgery and radiotherapy, and for which chemotherapy is a preventive treatment, is not the same as a case in which the tumor is already in the metastatic phase and in which chemotherapy must be administered. treat and control the disease. It is very rare for a patient in this second situation to refuse treatment because they know that their life depends on it.
Throughout this process, all specialists emphasize the importance of communication and trust between doctor and patient. “The patient must trust his doctor and the doctor must trust the patient,” emphasizes López. “If this relationship is strong, the patient will let himself be advised by the expert professional and will accept the most appropriate therapy.”
There is no scientific support that holistic or natural treatments such as yoga or meditation have any effect on reducing the risk of relapse.
Elias Lopez
— radiation oncologist in the AECC Patient Care Department
“If, despite the explanations, the patient refuses any type of treatment, we will never force him to do anything,” says del Barco. “Your decision is free, but it is important to have this prior conversation with the doctor so that it is informed.”
Finally, Dr. Elías López emphasizes that if a patient with cancer, whatever its type, has questions about their treatment options or any other aspect related to cancer, they can contact the InfoCancer service 24 hours a day by calling 900100376.
