"I was just a shell of a person." Kylie Minogue reveals she was diagnosed with cancer for the second time and didn't want to talk about it

Photo: John Phillips/Getty Images for Netflix

The Australian singer revealed that she was diagnosed with cancer for the second time in 2021, after successfully treating breast cancer in 2005. In her new eponymous documentary for Netflix, released on Wednesday, the Australian singer stated that she "went through it again," but added that she decided not to announce the news publicly, writes the BBC.

"The second time I was diagnosed with cancer was in early 2021. I was able to keep it a secret," 57-year-old Minogue said. "Not like the first time."

"Fortunately, I went through it again, and everything is fine," she continued. "Who knows what's around the corner for me, but pop music feeds me… my passion for music is stronger than ever."

An emotional Kylie noted how difficult it was for her to "find the right moment" to announce for the second time what she had gone through, especially during the success of her 2023 Grammy Award-winning dance-pop single Padam Padam.

"I don't feel obligated to tell the world about it, and in fact, I just couldn't do it then, because I was just a shell of a person," Minogue said.

"At one point, I no longer wanted to leave the house. Padam Padam opened so many doors for me, but inside I knew that cancer was not just a moment in my life."

"And I really just wanted to tell what happened so I could let it go. I would go to interviews and every time I thought, 'Now is the time,' but I kept it to myself."

Although she didn't tell fans or journalists about it, Minogue left subtle hints about the second stage of her cancer treatment in her 2023 album Tension.

One of her tracks, Story, contains the lyrics: "I had a secret that I kept inside / Turn another page, baby, step onto the stage."

In the three-part documentary by director Michael Gaunt, who also worked on a film about David Beckham, the star said: "I needed something to remind me of that time."

Minogue, who received her diagnosis after a routine check-up, emphasized that it was her own choice to share the new information, hoping that "someone will benefit from a gentle reminder to get checked."

"Early diagnosis was very helpful, and I am very grateful to be able to say: today I am healthy," she added in a film promo.

When she was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, the singer had to cancel the rest of her Showgirl tour and withdraw from the Glastonbury Festival's Sunday legends slot to undergo treatment, which included chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

At the time, many media outlets wrote about it, and Minogue received many well wishes from fans, as well as public messages of support from famous personalities.

As one of the few stars of that time who publicly spoke about her cancer diagnosis, Kylie received widespread recognition for raising awareness of the disease.

This led to a large number of women seeking medical attention, especially in Australia, where the singer is from. In the country, it was called the "Kylie effect."

She told Netflix producers that she delayed treatment to undergo several rounds of IVF in the hope of having a child.

"I was 36 when I was diagnosed, so even then… you had to think about children," she said in the film.

"So I tried, even delayed chemotherapy to try, which was quite scary at the time, because you just want it to be over."

She added: "If it had happened, it would have been almost a miracle. But it didn't work out."

Minogue received confirmation that she had recovered, and in 2008 admitted that she had initially been misdiagnosed, assuring her that "everything was fine and she had nothing to worry about."

She finally performed at Glastonbury Festival in 2019 — 14 years later than planned. Holding back tears, the singer performed a set of her greatest hits of the decade, making it the most watched performance in the festival's history.

Last December, she twice took the top spot in the British Christmas charts: for a single and an album.

The new documentary series chronicles Minogue's journey to fame — from her early years in the Australian soap opera Neighbours to becoming one of pop music's biggest stars with hits like Can't Get You Out of My Head and Spinning Around.

The film features archival footage and interviews with friends and family, including her former Neighbours co-star and ex-boyfriend Jason Donovan, sister Dannii, and musical collaborator Nick Cave.

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