Rachel Moore says believing you more than the doctors can be fatal

This is how brands sell themselves today: through celebrities or “influencers” who promote the life-changing effects or properties of magic potions, lifestyles and diets on social media.

When the rich and famous – or those with tens of thousands of followers – speak, people believe them, no matter how ridiculous their claims may be.

When former supermodel Elle Macpherson said in a magazine interview that her breast cancer was in self-healing remission, alarm bells rang.

She recounted how she refused chemotherapy and instead went to a beach in Miami, prayed and took an “intuitive, heart-led, holistic approach” to her cancer, and now enjoys “perfect health.”

I'm all for positive thinking, floral oils, clean eating, and even questioning medical experts, but spreading this complacent nonsense is dangerous.

She is not encouraging others to do the same, but her Russian roulette approach will influence others because she took the risk of foregoing medical follow-up to prevent possible spread and got lucky.

Breast cancer is a highly complex disease and there are many different types, strains and severities.

Every case is different. Several close friends have been treated over the past few years and each species, case and treatment has been dramatically different.

Thinking you know better than medical professionals can be a deadly game.

McPherson I was diagnosed with HER2-positive estrogen-receptive intraductal carcinoma seven years ago after a lumpectomy.

DThe doctors suggested a mastectomy with radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and reconstruction of her breast.

However, she decided not to undergo conventional medical treatment.

She told Australian Women's Weekly that she “dug deep within myself to find a solution that would work for me… I realised that I would need my own truth, my belief system to support me in this.”

She consulted her “naturopathic doctor, holistic dentist, osteopath, chiropractor, and two therapists” and spent her days “focusing and dedicating every single minute to my healing.” Not all of her family supported her decision.

Fortunately, she is doing well, but we all know that some alternative therapies are purely a money-making scheme and their effectiveness has not been proven in scientific studies or clinical trials.

When people have cancer, they try everything to get rid of the disease. It is a terrible time and those affected are vulnerable, desperate and looking for a miracle.

With fame comes responsibility, and the impact of one's words on those who do not enjoy the same privileges should be of utmost importance.

The boldness and audacity of people who evade all responsibility never ceases to amaze us.

This week, Viscountess Hinchingbrooke, aka Julie Montagu, launched her own murder mystery after her ten-year-old Indian Runner duck, Quackers, was attacked in the garden of her Mapperton House by a small brown and white terrier, whose owner twisted its neck and threw it into the tall grass like rubbish. All of this was witnessed by an estate gardener.

She explained on the radio this week that it was not the death that prompted her mission to track down the woman, but her behavior in not admitting the accident, calling the injured duck for help and not alerting anyone on the property.

To make matters worse, the woman was with a young boy and her dog was not on a leash.

The Viscountess demands an apology, an explanation and even another duck from the “duck strangler”.

She received 2,000 messages and emails and was sent “a handful” of suspects as she revealed new details about the “horrific” attack.

Attacks on livestock are common in our counties as unsuspecting dog owners let their dogs run free without regard for the livestock nearby. Dogs follow their instincts and lack of training

“The ducks are part of the fabric of the property, and Quackers in particular, because he was there for ten years and he was the leader of the pack. The other runners always followed him, and they really were the three musketeers, and it's just quite sad.”

Hopefully she finds the woman and names and shames

Speaking of taking responsibility, the sentencing of a 12-year-old boy in Manchester who, according to a judge, “played a greater role in the recent unrest than any other adult or child” the judge saw, was postponed because his mother had flown away on holiday to Ibiza on the day of the verdict.

He appeared in court with his uncle.

Maybe his uncle is the one in charge of the extended family, but we wonder how children behave like that. This mother's priorities answer the question.

Social media influencers who film and post every aspect of their family life have come under criticism from Supernanny Jo Frost.

The parenting expert was appalled that parents were wasting valuable family time making videos and “content” for Instagram.

“So now I'm looking at 7, 8 and 9 year olds completing their back to school morning routine in the form of posts! Parents, what on earth are you thinking? No, seriously? A time when family bonds should be at their strongest, the smooth running of a well-rehearsed routine of eating breakfast together, the acquisition of life skills, a mindset of focus and attention, and the privilege of having an education.

“It's bad enough to see so many parents relying on iPads and screens as babysitters in the mornings, leading to bad habits and chaotic mornings, but now this?”

But when there is the prospect of money, products, children's clothes, toys and holidays, these greedy people are unfortunately unstoppable.