Kylie Minogue 'drained' by cancer

Oct 17, 2005, 11:37 GMT

Kylie Minogue's family has spoken out about her battle with breast cancer - saying she's weak and emotionally drained.

However, the pop singer's great uncle Dennis Riddiford says Kylie is 'battling as hard she can' to beat the potentially fatal disease and has even made a 'joke' out of losing her hair.

Dennis - who speaks to Kylie's mother Carol on a regular basis - told

Britain's Sunday Mirror newspaper: 'It has been very tough for her, very draining. She has found the treatment very hard. And she has found it difficult coming to terms with the fact she has lost her hair.

'But she is a strong girl and she has made a joke out of it and is treating it as an opportunity to have a different hairstyle.'

Dennis - who lives in Wales, UK - also revealed Kylie is keen to marry boyfriend Olivier Martinez after he has supported her throughout the ordeal.

He added: 'I know Kylie would love to get married and have children and it seems like Olivier is the one. She has been wanting to settle down for some time but hadn't found the right person. But I think Olivier could be the one. She seems to think so.'

Earlier this month, Kylie sent a message of support to fellow cancer sufferers at a charity ball - because she was too ill to attend.

The petite singer had planned to attend Cancer Research UK's Pink Ice Ball at London's swanky Dorchester Hotel at the weekend but her doctors ordered her to pull out.

Her younger sister Dannii attended the bash and read out a moving statement from Kylie.

It read: 'Much as I would have loved to share this occasion with you all, my doctors have advised against it at this stage of my treatment. I am currently a cancer patient. I aim to be a cancer survivor'.

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