Kylie Diagnosed With Breast Cancer

Kylie MinogueKylie Minogue, who turns 37 next week, has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

The Australian pop star has postponed the Australian and Asian leg of her Showgirl - The Greatest Hits tour, as well as her appearance at Glastonbury at the end of June.

Kylie was enjoying a holiday in Melbourne with her family and her boyfriend of two years, French actor Olivier Martinez, 39, when she discovered she had early breast cancer.

She will undergo treatment immediately, heading to hospital as early as tomorrow. She is expected to stay in hospital for two days and to then return to her parents' home in Melbourne to recover.

Kylie on the UK leg of her Showgirl tourKylie has herself backed cancer charities strongly ever since her father was treated for prostate cancer.

THE STATEMENTS:

• Kylie: "I was so looking forward to bringing the Showgirl tour to Australian audiences, and am sorry to have to disappoint my fans. Nevertheless, hopefully all will work out fine and I'll be back with you all again soon."       
• Sister Dannii Minogue: "The news is very upsetting. Although, as the cancer has been diagnosed at such an early stage, we are all very optimistic that everything will be OK. We're all very thankful for the endless messages of love and support Kylie has been receiving - I know all your kind thoughts will mean the world to her as she gets better."       
• Pop producer Pete Waterman, whose former record company Stock Aitken & Waterman launched Kylie's pop career in 1988: "I am so shocked to hear this news. "My very best wishes go to her, and of course her family, at this difficult time." Pete, who lost his eldest son Paul, 33, to a mystery illness in January, added: "My heart goes out to her."       
• Ex-boyfriend and fellow Neighbours star Jason Donovan: "I was shocked and concerned to hear of Kylie's illness. My thoughts are with her and her family at this difficult time. I sincerely wish her well with this treatment. Kylie's a strong woman who will fight this battle on every front."       
• Kylie's management: "Whilst at home in Melbourne with her family this week prior to her Australian Showgirl tour, Kylie was diagnosed with early breast cancer. She will undergo immediate treatment and, consequently, her Australian tour will not be able to proceed as planned."       
• A spokesman for EMI, her record company in the region: "The whole Asian tour will be postponed - we just got word from the promoter."

The tour was due to kick off in Sydney on Thursday. Kylie had 21 dates planned in Australia, six in Melbourne alone.

Promoter the Frontier Touring Company told fans who'd bought tickets to hang onto them, pending the announceent of new Showgirl dates.

After Australia, she was due to take the tour to Asia, performing in Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok.

This was thought to be Kylie's last major tour. Nearly two months ago, when she opened it in Glasgow, she said: "This tour is not only a celebration of pop songs, and of my career, but also of a long-term relationship with my audience.

"This is my way of saying thank you and of sharing some of the most important moments of my journey so far."