A self-described "Wellness Warrior," who attempted to battle a rare form of cancer with alternative therapies, died on Thursday the age of 29.

Seven years ago, Australian Jessica Ainscough was diagnosed with epithelioid sarcoma, a slow growing soft tissue tumour in her left arm. The survival rate of this form of cancer for is 68% at five years and 61% at 10 years, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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The former Dolly magazine online editor gained thousands of followers on social media after she shunned traditional medicine to embark on a journey using Gerson therapy. The therapy uses coffee enemas, juices, supplements and a strict vegan diet, yet is banned in the United States and generally discredited by medical practitioners, according to the American Cancer Society and Cancer Australia.

Jessica Ainscough. Image: Jessica Ainscough

Initially, Ainscough underwent isolated limb perfusion, where the limb is isolated from circulation before a chemotherapy solution is used just on the arm. This worked, but the cancer returned a year later. Doctors recommended amputation of the arm and shoulder as the best option for survial — patients undergoing surgery have a better chance of survival (the five-year survival rate is 68%) compared to those who do not undergo surgical treatment (a five-year survival rate of 33%), according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Despite this advice, Ainscough turned her back on traditional medicine for Gerson therapy and began to blog about the process of "thriving with cancer." She later clarified that she used a team of medical experts and that the Gerson therapy was only part of her treatment.

"I didn’t chop off my arm. I didn’t go into aggressive, full-body chemotherapy," Ainscough wrote on her blog (cached version). "I didn’t accept that my doctor’s ‘solution’ was the only course of action. I decided that I would do everything in my power to thrive in life, in spite of the looming expiration date I’d been given.

"I learned how to treat myself with absolute kindness & self-respect. I radicalised my diet. I systematically detoxified my body — and mind. I discovered that wellness isn’t a destination, but a loving (and unconditionally forgiving) relationship with your own body."

Ainscough published a book about her experiences, released a cleanse kit, created a recipe e-book and a jewellery line, gave motivational talks and updated her blog with stories of nutrition, yoga and wellness. Her followers grew to a number in the hundreds of thousands on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and on her website.

In a sad twist, Ainscough's mother, who also attempted to treat breast cancer with Gerson therapy, died in 2013. Ainscough's final post on her blog was a Christmas update saying how her mum's death had broken her and she had retreated in to "self-care hibernation."

This year absolutely brought me to my knees. I’ve been challenged, frightened, and cracked open in ways I never had before. After my mum died at the end of last year, my heart was shattered and it’s still in a million pieces. I had no idea how to function without her, and it turns out my body didn’t either. For the first time in my almost seven year journey with cancer, this year I’ve been really unwell. I’ve lived with cancer since 2008 and for most of those years my condition was totally stable. When my mum became really ill, my cancer started to become aggressive again. After she died, things really started flaring up.

Ainscough detailed her deteriorating condition in a December 2014 post to her many followers. She revealed that she had suffered non-stop bleeding from her armpit for 10 months and was extremely weak, but that the cancer was still contained to her left arm and shoulder. She also revealed that she had started working with an oncologist.

Three months later, the illness had claimed Ainscough's life. Since her death, her social media accounts have been blocked, her videos set to private and her blog redirects to a statement regarding her death:

On February 26th 2015, the world lost one of its brightest sparks. After 30 years, 7 of which were spent thriving with cancer, Jess Ainscough peacefully passed away.

In one of Ainscough's final Facebook posts on December 31, she wrote of her plan to let go in 2015, the year she was to marry her long-term partner, Tallon Pamenter, after a difficult 2014.

"This is the first year that I'm not setting goals or intentions. Instead I'm going into the year guided by one word: surrender," Ainscough wrote. "The last two years have been really challenging as I've tried to control things that are outside my control. This year I'm completely letting go."