Why cancer ‘wellness’ can kill
Leah Hardy photographed by Sarah Brick
If, heaven forbid, you were diagnosed with cancer tomorrow, would you take advice from a consultant oncologist with a first class medical degree and more than two decades of clinical experience, or from a wellness influencer? When I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer in September 2021, that dilemma was a no-brainer. My cancer had set up home in two places in my breast and sneaked into my lymph nodes. But after chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, and a year of targeted therapies for my type of cancer – HER2 positive – I’m still here. I might not be as lean, tanned and gorgeous as Elle Macpherson, but I’m every bit as alive. However, if I’d followed her much publicised “intuitive, heart-led, holistic approach” of rejecting chemotherapy after her diagnosis seven years ago, there’s a good chance I wouldn’t be.
For while I enjoy an aromatherapy massage as much as the next woman, relying on alternative therapies to treat cancer can be deadly. A study of women who refused any medical treatment for breast cancer found that fewer than four per cent were alive 10 years later. For patients with potentially curable breast cancer, choosing them instead of, or even before medical treatment increases the risk of dying within five years almost sixfold. Even seemingly benign supplements can be dangerous for cancer patients. Some interfere with treatment and may even reduce the effectiveness of chemo. You should always talk to your doctor before taking anything.
Chemotherapy is only necessary for a minority of patients. But in patients who do need it, like me, it can reduce the relative risk of dying of breast cancer by 25 per cent.
It’s important to note that Macpherson, an anti-vaxxer who is promoting a book and runs a supplement company, didn’t entirely reject medical science. She had an operation to remove cancer cells called a lumpectomy. This is an option if a cancer is very small. For women with the very earliest form of cancer, DCIS, lumpectomy, with or without radiotherapy to mop up any remaining malignant cells, is the standard conventional treatment with a cure rate of 98 per cent.
While cancer treatment must always be a matter of personal choice, I worry that some women will look at beautiful, glowing, wellness influencers and think that they can reject science without realising the risks they are taking. And, of course, Macpherson is very far from the worst influencer in the hectic ‘woo and wellness’ sphere…
Full disclosure. I chose to augment my medical care with yoga and walking in the woods as they calmed my anxiety. Going to the gym made me feel like a person who did things, rather than a person to whom things – needles, drips, surgery and scans – were done. But while it made me feel better, yoga didn’t cure my cancer.
In fact, if there is one good thing about this whole business, it means people can stop torturing themselves with thoughts about how they could have prevented their own disease. Even if you take a million high-priced supplements, are thin and expensively Pilates-honed, run on the beach, and are obsessed with your health to the point of solipsism, you can still develop cancer. While lifestyle factors such as smoking can increase your risk, for most of us, it’s a disease of bad luck and ageing.
So, while Macpherson’s advice is to “follow your heart”, mine is to follow your brain, and listen to your doctor.
Leah Hardy is a health and beauty journalist and That’s Not My Age contributor.
Discussion (31 Comments)
This is SUCH an important message! I have neuroendocrine cancer, the same incurable cancer that killed Steve Jobs. He chose to reject his doctor’s advice and looked to alternative treatments instead. By the time he discovered that that didn’t work and sought real medical treatment, it was too late. I’ve been following the recommendations of medical professionals since I was diagnosed eleven years ago and I’m still very much alive. There are no guarantees, of course, but I would advise anyone to listen to their doctor.
Stacey says:
Thank you for this. A loved-one has neuroendocrine cancer and she’s getting treated by a top doctor at a top cancer center. We’re so relieved that she has access to such care. Also, when my husband had cancer, I consulted the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s complementary medicine center, which has information about a range of supplements and what they do and which would interfere with treatment. Ten years later he’s still here! At first, a few friends came at us with recommendations for a “holistic” approach. It was so annoying, as if we weren’t capable of making decisions about his treatment. I would respond that we were happy with the course he was on and had confidence in his doctors.
This is one of my pet peeves! It’s never okay to suggest that a cancer patient might not be getting the best care possible. Sadly, however, there are a lot of armchair experts out there who seem to think that they know better than the professionals. I know they often mean well, but it’s very annoying and often introduces doubts that a patient and their loved ones shouldn’t have to deal with.
Goddessinthedetails says:
Thank you for communicating the facts. It was a lumpectomy and radiotherapy for me. I discovered that alternative therapies have their place but AFTER the treatment. My Breast Cancer Clinic recommended acupuncture to help recover from radiotherapy and I also discovered reflexology at our local Cancer Help Centre. Beyond that, I gave up all supplements as a few are effective enough to interfere with radiotherapy. I now spend my money on good organic food instead.
MaureenC says:
This is indeed such a wise message. So many people become vulnerable to charlatans, when their mental or physical health is in jeopardy. This has always been the case but the plague of online influencers has created a much greater problem. It doesn’t surprise me that Elle MacPherson is an anti vaxxer as well as the rest of the nonsense she promotes. We shouldn’t forget how many have died because of the misinformation they spread about the covid vaccines and other vaccines against diseases like whooping cough and polio that we had previously conquered which are now on the rise.
Maryann says:
Thank you. I have ovarian cancer and am still here 9 years later. I follow medical advice, my doctor is brilliant. Like you I do yoga, I walk but that is for my mental health. When I read about Elle I worried that the vulnerable may believe her and reject medical advice to the detriment of their own health and survival.
Holly says:
My mother almost died from her chemotherapy, which induced multiple blood clots in her lungs and legs. The thing is, like other medical treatments, her chemo had been studied extensively and these potential side effects weren’t unknown, unlike the effects of whatever ‘intuitive’ action you may take on your own.
Doctors don’t know everything about cancer, but they know more about it than anyone else.
Glad you’re doing well! My mother recovered and is doing well too.Carol Duguid says:
Thank you, well written, truthful and balanced. We now need more awareness of Secondary Breast Cancer (not from a negative perspective but a positive one). @Genesiscareuk has produced a lovely video this week. Please take a look and share.
Tricia says:
I too was diagnosed with HER2+ and ER+ BC a year ago. I had to stop chemo half way through my 16 treatments which was blooming scary but the grade 3 chemo induced PeripheraL Neuropathy risked putting me in a wheelchair. I trusted the medical advice. I am now waiting for confirmation of secondary bone cancer in my spine. Cancer is sneaky . Exercise good food and where possible emotional and mental well-being plus my ongoing treatment for my Primary BC and any necessary for secondary will keep me going. It’s not easy but there’s enough research evidence to show the benefits . People like EM worry me. Dr Liz O’Riorden is my go to for advice online. I wish everyone well.
Bee says:
Thank you for such a well grounded approach to the mental, emotional and physical pain of serious ill health. I wish you well and a long and happy life. I hade a huge brain tumour that was removed in 12 hours of surgery and I feel very grateful to still be here too. To have my sight, my intellect, mostly, and can walk. I have tried to work with some well-meaning ‘wellness’ processes but have this week decided that my own targeted self care is going to help me more, I will feel more involved and get stronger sooner. And I decided that at 77 years old, I have already had a good life and the rest is a bonus. Be happy, be in every moment of the day as you do not get that one again. Sending you all love and hugs.
Jayne says:
Bee, thank you for this reminder to be thankful for the skill of the medical profession, to care for ourselves and to value each day to the full.
I wish you much happiness,
Jayne
Wendy Jupp says:
Such sense and straightforward talking. Thank you. The headlines for people such as Elle McPherson and their messages do not tell the full story and miss the complexities of any health issue. We are individuals who react differently and cancer can vary so much. I have personal experience of how damaging relying on complementary medicine can be when my late husband tried it to ‘cure’ his ulcerative colitis.
Rhoda says:
Thank you so much for this wise post.
My husband is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer (yes – male breast cancer is a thing – even though it represents less than 1% of cases!) After four months of chemotherapy he is now undergoing radiation treatment and will be on medication for the next 10 years – if he is lucky enough to live that long. Cancer treatment is a tough and lonely road, as anybody who has experienced or witnessed it will know. So dispiriting for survivors and people currently undergoing treatment to read the probably well-intentioned but definitely woo-woo pronouncements of wellness influencers. Put your trust in science and follow the expertise of oncologists who have spent a lifetime learning about this horrible disease. Good health to all!Paula Jones says:
Thank you. We need more well expressed articles like this to counter the proliferation of ill informed pseudo scientific articles designed to sell books and products.
Please now write a similar article to counter all the disinformation about vaccines as I have a family member reluctant to vaccinate her baby because of other pseudo scientific articles!Thank you for sharing,
with a cancer prognosis, I think there is only one advise and that is that, the medical professionals are the only ones to listen too.
By all means, have spa treatments and look after your general wellbeing but in the Cancer case scenario it really is
The Doctor knows best.
Btw, Michelle Obama has always, and will always be no1 person.Lin James says:
Thank you so much for publishing this, I’ve been fuming over the publicity given to Elle MacPherson this week, and the potential damage to vulnerable people facing hard choices! My experience was lumpectomy followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy because my tiny tumour turned out to be triple negative. Mindfulness helped manage my anxiety during treatment, but it wouldn’t have stopped the cancer. I am so grateful to still be here seven years later (& thank you also to Carol for the secondary cancer link above)
Catherine says:
Many thanks for this thoughtful article. We live in a world of “alternative truths”, so it’s good to read this article and the posts.
Helen Long says:
Thank you so much for this article.
As others have said, I have been worried ever since reading Elle MacPherson’s extreme and ill-informed views on cancer treatment – or the lack of it. The effects on those who are influenced by her are dangerous indeed. (Interesting that she mentioned nothing about her own lumpectomy!)
Complementary treatments should be just that and not replace medical science and expertise which we are so lucky to have access to.
Wishing you well in your own cancer recovery, Leah.Cindy from Canada says:
Last November, I was diagnosed with Stage 0, non invasive breast cancer. My course of treatment was 2 lumpectomies, followed by 16 rounds of radiation. I can’t take HRT due to having osteoporosis. I have a wonderful medical team – my GP, surgeon and radiation oncologist along with his nurse. My 2 surgeries went well – both were day procedures, and I breezed through radiation – not experiencing the fatigue and skin issues associated. Now, it’s follow ups with my surgeon and a mammogram in late November. I have been feeling fine – taking things one day at a time.
Thank you, Leah Hardy, for this common sense blog. Elle MacPherson will have her followers, my brain and heart tells me to have trust in my medical team.Mrs Tonia says:
Thank you to Alyson and to Leah for highlighting her own experience and treatment for breast cancer. I know too many people including a cousin and my sister who have gone through this. None turned down the opportunity to get the recommended treatment including surgery, chemo and radiotherapy and hormones advocated. All are doing well subsequently.
Having read about Elle Macpherson and her approach i feel that is fine for her with the time money etc to follow a non chemotherapy route but not for others who wish to be cured.Boadicea says:
To all the ladies who have written, and to Leah too, may I send my very best wishes for your full recovery? I cannot begin to imagine the initial fear and dread you must have experienced and am in awe of your stoicism and determination and, dare I say, sheer bloody-mindedness not to be beaten by this dreadful disease. To those who are celebrating seeing-off cancer, I wish continued good health and to those who have lost dear ones, my heartfelt condolences.
I know that cancer treatments are improving all the time, but as a real Oldie I still remember how even the word cancer really scared people when I was a child: it was only ever whispered low and not meant to be heard by little ears. Nowadays, people share experiences and offer support so much more and alongside trusting the medical professionals this is surely the best way to fight back. That said, I read recently about a lady saying that she was not ‘fighting’ cancer. Yes, she had it – and she was being treated for it. End of. No battle/fight was involved. Like the ladies above, she was just getting on with it. And, hopefully, coming through. As I trust, will all of you.Sarah P says:
Great post! I think Elle Macpherson is being incredibly irresponsible by selling delusions and snake oil, and IMO she will be partly responsible for deaths. One of my good friends was diagnosed with breast cancer in her 30s and I am very glad she opted for surgery and chemo because it means she is now alive and thriving — rock climbing, cycling, adventuring with her lovely dog, and basically living her best life with her partner.
Susan Fellows says:
There are several types of breast cancer, and not having read any of the publicity surrounding Elle, I don’t know which type she had. Some are very aggressive, others not so much. The direction treatment takes is determined by the type of cancer and how it respons to the treatment given. I don’t know if Elle’s cancer was the type “die with it, not of it”, or whether it was more aggressive. There is no one catch all form of treatment, just as there is not one single form of breast cancer.
I’d be listening to the specialists not someone who has only experimented on herself.Char says:
I also have a similar story and have had breast cancer in both breasts a year apart. Fortunately
both caught very early so I was able to do a lumpectomy on each and radiation on both. I am
on anastrozole a estrogen blocker for 5 years. I am fortunate to have an excellent breast doctor and
oncologist. I can’t stress its critical to follow their advice and treatment. There are excellent resources
available at Sloan-Kettering and Susan G Komen for research to help you understand diagnosis and
treatments so you can discuss them in an informed fashion to help you.Hazel Hayden says:
As a healthcare professional this is the sanest advice and piece I have seen or read. Thank you. I am a menopause specialist and often have women come to see me post breast cancer and I hope you don’t mind but I am going to print off your article and give to them to read.
SuD says:
This needed to be said. Cancer can happen to anyone. It’s important to follow the science and not an influencer who looks good and is promoting something for the clicks and profits.
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Thank you for writing this. I wish everybody could or would read these very wise words.