Grace Gawler Comments: Everything Old is New Again!
The recent highly publicised story of Elle McPherson’s choice of cancer treatment highlights the cycle of regurgitation of alternative remedies for treating breast cancer and other cancers that reinvents itself decade after decade. Image courtesy ABC
Such stories should stay with the Elle McPherson’s of the world and not become a feast for the public due the influence that celebrities like Elle have on a cancer and non-Cancer community; peple who are ever hungry to find the alternative or natural cure. It is usual for natural cancer cure seekers to take advice from the Guru (or Gurus) of the time. Elle appears to have taken the advice of Simone Laubscher whose qualifications have been recently discredited. Red Flag #1 A must-read report.
According to the media reports Elle was diagnosed with a HER2-positive oestrogen-receptive intraductal carcinoma breast cancer and underwent two lumpectomies. It is deeply concerning that in her individual case, that she rejected conventional treatment. There are medically scientific reasons why treatment was suggested for this cancer type.
I am an Independent Cancer Navigator and breast cancer survivor. My vocation, my life’s work has been focussed on helping patients to navigate the complex cancer maze. December 2024 marks 50 years since my very personal interaction with a cancer patient who lost a leg to osteosarcoma (bone cancer). That patient was Ian Gawler.
We had worked in a veterinary practice together and in our day to day work we had managed and treated many animals including dogs with cancer. We had euthanised several who had been diagnosed with osteosarcoma. Surgery, a full leg amputation was the treatment of the day and should the sarcoma return (metastasise) there would be radiation and perhaps chemotherapy.
Now – here’s the thing; when a bone anomaly was discovered 11 months after his initial surgery, it was presumed to be a recurrence of osteosarcoma – but it was never biopsied unlike the initial tumour that underwent multiple biopsies before amputation to be sure there was no doubt as to his diagnosis.
The location and position of the new lesions were atypical – the ensuing symptoms were atypical, and this is where the waters became very muddied as it appears that in retrospect, these new lesions were almost certainly caused by TB rather than bone cancer. (REF IMJ article – Haines and Lowenthal)
So, what has this story go to do with Elle McPherson as an influencer and her pursuit of a natural cure for her breast cancer? As it turns out – quite a lot!
Over decades, the misreporting and failure to correct assumptions re Ian Gawler’s diagnosis led to the rise of an alternative healing movement that spun out of control changing the way the public thought about cancer and alternative treatments. A belief system was crafted in the mind of cancer patients that a combination of diet, meditation and positive thinking could cure cancer.
That belief system has been embellished throughout the decades as more and more cancer patients morphed into cancer cure influencers. Many based their rationale on: “If Ian did it, I can do it too”! But how could they know the whole story as it was changed and often reported inaccurately, The original story bearing no resemblance to the actual story. Since then, there has been an endless stream of cancer patients who were influenced by Ian’s story.
April 21, 2012 Julia Medew and Chris Johnston wrote an article published in The Sydney Morning Herald published: Too good to be true? In that published story At that time Ian Gawler’s bestselling 1984 book You Can Conquer Cancer, had sold 250,000 copies; a tremendous public influence nationally and internationally. Red Flag #2 as Elle McPherson celebrity status make her a power influencer for other cancer patients. Using the same line of thinking: “If Elle did it I can do it too”!
In 2015 in the previous 2 blogs reposted here on my blog site, I wrote: We are now seeing hundreds of ‘’Wellness Cancer-Cure” bloggers who can appear to have knowledge merely because they have had or still have cancer and followed a cancer guru or book or Instagram, Facebook influencer. Walking experiments themselves; they advise with surety gathering followers along the path like in the fairytale – The Pied Piper of Hamelin
Journalist Richard Guilliatt posed the question in his articles – What do these people have in common? They are young, new age, savvy with the internet and social media and they are a part of dangerous sisterhood peddling unqualified natural living and “cure cancer” philosophies to the online masses.
One unfortunate high profile example is the Wellness Warrior Jess Ainscough and her mother Sharyn Ainscough. Jess Ainscough claimed that Ian Gawler‘s book, You can Conquer Cancer, was a major influence on her when she was initially diagnosed with cancer. In April 2011, Jess’ mother, Sharyn Ainscough, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Sharyn also refused all conventional treatment instead opting to join her daughter in Gerson Therapy. Sharyn Ainscough died in October 2013, two and half years after diagnosis, in line with expectations for untreated breast cancer. Jess Ainscough had to return to conventional medicine but died 26 February 2015 (aged 29).
In today’s world of social media, information travels at an alarming pace. It remains a duty of care for anyone dealing with cancer and sharing their story prematurely or inaccurately, that they are aware of the inherent responsibility and the influence they have over the life of other cancer patients. Everyone’s cancer and situation is different and should be assessed professionally, as Elle McPherson did…but please let’s put a stop to the Cancer influencers who may think they are doing good when in fact they are more likely doing harm.
Elle Macpherson Says She Refused Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer—Here’s What Oncologists Think
In a new interview, former supermodel Elle Macpherson, 60, said she was diagnosed with breast cancer seven years ago. Macpherson said she decided against chemotherapy even though it was recommended to her; instead, she said she followed a “holistic” treatment plan and that she’s now in remission.
Read in Health: https://apple.news/AYua7lZpyTki2UjEm9h2o-g
‘Unbelievable’: Oncologist questions claims of ‘doctor’ lauded by Elle Macpherson
Simone Laubscher looks like she has it all with a successful wellness business and career in the health industry.
Read in ABC News: https://apple.news/Auhwj0We4Rd6tBAY64X7bGQ