Refusing standard cancer treatment like Elle Macpherson is a big risk

Half of us will develop cancer at some point in our lives, but how many of us can consult dozens of doctors and then confidently reject conventional medical advice?

In a recent interview Australian Women's Weekly magazine, Australian supermodel Elle Macpherson revealed that she did just that. She told the publication that she was diagnosed with breast cancer seven years ago, but forewent chemotherapy in favor of an “intuitive, heartfelt, holistic approach” to treatment.

According to the magazine, Macpherson considered the decision for several weeks after consulting with “32 doctors and experts.” She ultimately decided in February 2017 to pursue a non-pharmaceutical response under the guidance of her primary care physician, an “integrative medicine” specialist.

Fortunately, Macpherson is now in clinical remission – or, as she prefers to say, “completely well.” Without knowing important details about the extent of her cancer, the associated risk factors, and the advice she received, it’s futile to try to assess the risks of her decision to forgo chemotherapy. For example, she underwent a lumpectomy – an initial operation to remove a suspicious tumor – which some doctors said might be sufficient treatment.

However, the story has become a lightning rod on the Internet, provoking both a growing number of people who distrust “traditional medicine” and those who seek to defend it from increasing attacks.

What's behind this mistrust? Some researchers point to the COVID-19 pandemic as a rise “scientific skepticism” around the world, with heated debates about the severity of symptoms, the merits of lockdowns and the safety of vaccines. The online world of “health” is also more and more is used as a cover for anti-scientific views and even conspiracy thinking.

For Black and Minority Ethnic People distrust of doctors – up to and including a reluctance to undergo cancer screening and even treatment – ​​reflects the state of public health and medical institutions. ten year failure to interact with them and ensure equality of health care in many countries.

And in the UK in particular, confidence in the ability of the National Health Service to treat cancer has grown. has fallen in recent yearsWith reports months-long delays in starting key cancer treatments.

All of which means that if you’re diagnosed with cancer today, your options may seem less clear than they did in the past. Add to that the typically brutal experience of chemotherapy, and it’s no wonder McPherson’s story of “non-pharmaceutical” alternatives has attracted so much attention.

But it's worth remembering that MacPherson is not entirely representative of the vast majority of people with cancer. estimated net With a net worth of $95 million, she can afford to seek multiple second opinions and then forego chemotherapy: her wealth acts as a safety net. Her “edible wellness” company WelleCoand her historical romantic ties with disgraced anti-vaxxer Andrew Wakefieldwho is she dated 2018-2019further complicate McPherson's story.

For most people, refusing medical care carries real risks. 2017 study found that cancer patients who chose alternative medicine as their primary treatment had a higher risk of dying within five years than those who chose conventional treatment.

A larger study The following year, a study of nearly 2 million people with cancer in the United States was published. It found that use of complementary medicine was associated with avoidance of conventional cancer treatment and a doubling of the risk of death within five years.

Of course, oncologists more and more by choosing to use less chemotherapy or no chemotherapy at all – reflecting new treatments, research and the realization that targeted, tailored responses are most effective.

But for now at least, the advice from organisations like Cancer Research UK is clear: there is no scientific or medical evidence that alternative treatments can cure cancer. Against a backdrop of widespread mistrust of medicine, the Macpherson report – trumpeting a positive outcome without important context – risks influencing people down dangerous paths.

Anyone can be at risk for cancer, but with so many resources at her disposal, The Body – as Macpherson was known at the height of her modeling career – always had a better chance of surviving than most people, no matter what she chose.

Elle Hunt is a freelance writer and journalist.