Supermodel Elle Macpherson has sparked controversy after revealing she rejected traditional cancer treatments in favour of natural therapies for her breast cancer.
The 60-year-old told Australian Women’s Weekly that her doctors recommended a mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation.
Why this expert says Elle Macpherson is “irresponsible” and “entitled“
However, in February 2017, she chose to forgo conventional medical treatments.
Macpherson’s comments have raised concerns among health professionals, who warn that her statements could mislead vulnerable patients.
On today’s episode of The Briefing, Dr David Robert Grimes, a cancer researcher, joins us to explain why he believes her comments could cause serious harm.
Every day, 58 Australians are diagnosed with breast cancer, and while the five-year survival rate is 92 per cent, experts stress that conventional treatments like chemotherapy remain crucial for improving outcomes.
“This is dangerous for patients. We know that patients who go down complementary and alternative routes for their cancer treatment fare much worse, doubling their risk of dying,” Dr Grimes said.
“Patients who are seduced by glowing reports like the one Elle Macpherson made tend to delay or entirely reject conventional treatment,” he added.
“That has terrible ramifications for their outcomes.”
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