Elle Macpherson's statements on her 'holistic' approach to her breast cancer has "some really dangerous implications", one of Ireland's leading oncologists has warned.
The Australian supermodel has revealed that she was diagnosed with breast cancer seven years ago but decided not to undergo chemotherapy or further traditional medical treatment.
In an interview with The Australian Women's Weekly, the 60-year-old said she wanted to take a holistic approach to treating the disease, but acknowledged this is not right for everyone.
According to the magazine, Macpherson was diagnosed with a type of cancer called HER2 positive oestrogen receptive intraductal carcinoma, after having a lumpectomy - surgery to remove cancer from the breast.
Consultant Oncologist Professor John Crown told Newstalk Breakfast people shouldn't take the 'wrong message' from her approach.
"In the first instance Id like to wish Elle Macpherson the best of luck with her health and I hope she is cured of her breast cancer," he said.
"I do think there are some really dangerous implications of this statement that she's made and I certainly wouldn't want people to take the wrong message from it.
"I know nothing about Elle Macpherson's cancer but the first thing that has to be said is she's admitted that she did have the lump removed - so she did have traditional medicine, she had surgery".
'High chance of being cured'
Prof Crown said the most important part of treatment in an early-stage breast cancer is surgery.
"If God appeared to you and said you could only have one kind of treatment you would take surgery," he said.
"For early stage small breast cancers removing the cancer may well cure it.
"We do know that if you do not have to have your breasts amputated - and thankfully most women nowadays will not have to - for those patients removing the lump, followed by radium treatment, gives you a high chance of being cured than not having the radiotherapy treatment.
"Does that mean that no one is cured if the lump is removed? The answer is no".
'Flat-out wrong'
Prof Crown said recent research shows "very select patients with particular characteristics" may have the lump removed without radiation treatment.
"So for [Elle Macpherson] to say she has not had standard [treatment] is completely, flat-out wrong," he said.
"I don't wish to personalise this about Elle but it has been my experience over 40 years that the possession of a large amount of money does not insulate you from making bad decisions in life about your healthcare or in other ways."
Prof Crown added that healthy approaches are important but "they absolutely do not take the place of having the proper, medical, surgical, radiation advice about the management of your breast cancer."
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