Kylie Minogue says 2021 cancer diagnosis was kept secret from fans

Kylie Minogue revealed she secretly battled cancer again after a 2021 diagnosis. Photo / Getty Images

Kylie Minogue battled cancer for a second time in secret after being diagnosed in 2021.

The I Should Be So Lucky star, 57, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 – prompting her to cancel a tour and a headline slot at Glastonbury festival – and she went on to make a full recovery after undergoing treatment, but Kylie has now revealed she suffered another health scare five years ago when she was diagnosed with cancer for a second time.

Kylie finally lifted the lid on her secret cancer battle in her new self-titled Netflix documentary, saying: “My second cancer diagnosis was in early 2021. I was able to keep that to myself … Not like the first time.”

Kylie didn’t give any details about her diagnosis or treatment, but assured fans she’s now healthy.

She added: “Thankfully, I got through it. Again. And all is well. Hey, who knows what’s around the corner, but pop music nurtures me … my passion for music is greater than ever.”

Kylie also added that she kept the news secret because she couldn’t “find the right time” to announce it publicly after scoring a huge hit with her 2023 single, Padam Padam.

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She explained: “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.

“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.”

Kylie also revealed the song, Story, from her 2023 album, Tension, was about her secret cancer battle. The track features the lyric: “I had a secret that I kept to myself … Turn another page, baby take the stage.”

She said of the track: “I needed to have something that marked that time.”

The singer also spoke about her cancer scare in materials released to promote the documentary, revealing her diagnosis came after a routine check-up and expressing her hope that it inspires others not to skip regular appointments.

Kylie said: “There will be someone out there who will benefit from a gentle reminder to do their check-ups … Early detection was very helpful and I am so grateful to be able to say that I am well today.”