Singer Kylie Minogue was on Sunday recovering at a hospital in her hometown of Melbourne following a successful operation to treat breast cancer.
The star was said to be feeling fine and is expected to make a complete recovery following a lumpectomy, during which the small growth was removed.
The disease was detected at an early stage and it appears that the cancer cells have not spread to other parts of her body. Minogue now faces the prospect of undergoing either radiotherapy or chemotherapy over the next few months to kill off any remaining cells.
”I’m very pleased to be able to confirm that the operation was successful,” said Dr Jenny Senior, who operated on Minogue on Friday afternoon at St Frances Xavier Cabrini hospital.
”I feel confident that we caught the cancer in time and that she is now on the road to complete recovery.”
Minogue, who will be 37 later this month, postponed the final leg of her Showgirl tour after receiving the diagnosis while in Australia. She also pulled out of her headline appearance at Glastonbury next month.
Messages of support for Minogue have flooded in from around the world since the announcement last Tuesday.
Among the singer’s friends who have sent their best wishes are Elton John, Ronan Keating and former Neighbours actress Delta Goodrem, who has also battled cancer.
Minogue’s French boyfriend, Olivier Martinez; her parents, Ron and Carol; brother Brenden; and sister Dannii are understood to be at her side.
The hospital has also been inundated with calls and letters from fans who are thought to have donated Aus$8 000 (R39 000) to a specially created Kylie Minogue breast-cancer fund within 24 hours of it being set up.
Dr Sarah Rawlings, head of policy at the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said if Minogue does have further treatment, it is likely to begin as soon as possible.
”Most women with early breast cancer will be offered chemotherapy or radiotherapy or a combination of both following surgery,” she said.
”The role of both these treatments is to reduce the risk of the cancer spreading or coming back. Radiotherapy is given to the area where the cancer was in the breast and chemotherapy is a treatment that travels around the whole body to pick up any cancer cells that have spread.”
While some women decide not to have any more treatment after surgery, most want to do as much as possible to ensure the cancer does not come back.
Radiotherapy, which uses an X-ray to treat the affected area, is usually given daily or every other day for around a month.
The skin at the targeted area can become inflamed or sore, and the treatment can be very tiring for patients.
But Minogue is also likely to have the cancerous tumour tested for its sensitivity to the hormone oestrogen. If it turns out to be sensitive, she may well be advised to opt for chemotherapy, which would involve a six- to eight-month course of treatment in three- to four-weekly cycles. It is mainly given intravenously. — Guardian Unlimited Â