Minogue still receiving cancer treatment

Jan 14, 2006, 11:54 GMT

Sydney - Australian pop princess Kylie Minogue is still receiving treatment for the breast cancer that prompted an operation in Melbourne in May, her publicist said Saturday.

There was no evidence that the cancer had returned after a lump had been removed from the 37-year-old's left breast, a statement from the publicist said.

The comments came in response to a report in London's The Sun newspaper that Minogue had her final chemotherapy session December 18 before being given the good news a week ago that chemotherapy had been successful.

The Sun reported that the former star of the television soap 'Neighbours' was expected to start daily radiation treatment as a precaution against a relapse and would be tested again after six weeks. If the results remained negative after six months, she would officially be in remission, it said.

After the Melbourne operation, Minogue returned to her home in London. She then underwent treatment in France, where she is sharing an apartment with her fiance, French actor Olivier Martinez.

'On May 21 last year, Kylie's surgeon announced that the operation to remove a breast cancer was successful,' the publicist's statement read.

'Since that time Kylie has been undergoing treatments to prevent a return of the cancer. Fortunately, we are still able to say we have received no news of a re-occurrence of the cancer. However, at this point in time Kylie's treatments are continuing.'

A longstanding friend of Minogue, pop music journalist Ian 'Molly' Meldrum, has told British television that Minogue was recovering.

'The treatment was quite severe and probably Kylie was a lot sicker than most of us thought,' the Australian music industry veteran said.

'But now, obviously, she is coming home for a little while and, as I say, the chemo is finished and I guess that she is now well on her way to recovery,' Meldrum said.