Kylie Minogue Reveals Second Cancer Diagnosis in 2021
The Revelation of a Second Cancer Diagnosis
Kylie Minogue has revealed that in early 2021 she was diagnosed with cancer for a second time, after diagnosis and successful treatment for breast cancer in 2005.
Details of the Diagnosis and Treatment
The pop star discussed the previously unannounced diagnosis in a new Netflix documentary entitled Kylie, available from today. “My second cancer diagnosis was in early 2021. I was able to keep that to myself … Not like the first time,” she said, referring to her highly publicised first treatment.
- 2005: Diagnosed with breast cancer, treated and given the all-clear.
- 2021: Diagnosed with cancer for a second time, kept private.
The Impact on Her Life and Music
Minogue said that after her treatment, she struggled “to find the right time” to announce it publicly, including after the huge success of her Grammy-winning 2023 single Padam Padam.
“I don’t feel obliged to tell the world, and actually I just couldn’t at the time because I was just a shell of a person,” she said. “I didn’t want to leave the house again at one point. Padam Padam opened so many doors for me but on the inside I knew that cancer wasn’t just a blip in my life. And I really just wanted to say what happened so I can let go of it. I’d sit through interviews and every opportunity I thought, ‘now’s the time’, but I kept it to myself.”
The Netflix Documentary
The new Netflix documentary is in three parts, and directed by Michael Harte, who edited Netflix’s successful four-part documentary on David Beckham. As well as Minogue, it features interviews with her sister Dannii, and former duet partners Jason Donovan and Nick Cave, among others.
The Importance of Check-Ups
Minogue added in the promotional materials accompanying the launch: “There are so many people for whom cancer is part of their life and, I get it; you just want to move on and put it in the past or park it to the side. But, check-ups are incredibly important. It can be daunting and triggering but please be mindful of just how vital they are - and reach out for help if you need it, you’re not alone.”