Australian pop icon Kylie Minogue, 57, became emotional during a recent interview with Heart, admitting that she still finds it 'difficult' to discuss her breast cancer journey, years after being given the all-clear. The princess of pop explained that her harrowing experience with the disease runs 'so deep' that she struggles to articulate what truly happened during that period of her life.
Emotional Interview on Heart
Speaking to Heart about her new Netflix docuseries Kylie, the Australian superstar opened up about the lasting impact of breast cancer. When asked if her health scare remains tricky to talk about, she confessed: 'It's always difficult because it's so deep. It's not that neat to wrap it up and go "that's what happened, then that happened, then she's all good."'
First Diagnosis in 2005
The former Neighbours actress was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, at a time when she hoped to start a family with then-boyfriend Olivier Martinez. In episode three of Kylie, she reflected: 'There's so much more to cancer than you had it, you got through it and you're fine - or fine for now. I was 36 when I got my diagnosis so already it's - you need to be thinking about children.'
Kylie revealed that she decided to delay chemotherapy to undergo IVF, desperate to become a mother. 'I postponed my chemotherapy to try - which was quite scary at the time because you just want it out. Gone. I want to feel safe, I don't want this. But yeah, I did try a few times with IVF, always with such a thread of hope. But I couldn't not try. If it had happened it would have been just shy of a miracle. But it didn't work out that way. One can't help but wonder what it would have been like - I'm so close to my family. But it wasn't my path,' she sighed.
Second Diagnosis in 2021
The docuseries also revealed that Kylie was diagnosed with breast cancer for a second time in early 2021. This time, she chose to deal with it privately. 'I was able to keep that to myself and go through that year, not like the first time. I didn'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 explained.
Two years later, her Grammy-winning song 'Padam Padam' opened many doors, but carrying the health secret took its toll. 'On the inside I knew that the cancer wasn't just a blip in my life and I really just needed to say what happened so I could let go of it,' Kylie said. 'Thankfully I got through it again and all is well.'
Why She Chose to Share Now
Kylie explained that making the documentary felt like the right time to reveal her second diagnosis. 'Making this documentary has meant looking back at so many pivotal moments in my life and this was another one. I also know there will be someone out there who will benefit from a gentle reminder to do their check-ups. As part of my routine check-ups in 2021, I was diagnosed with a second primary breast cancer. Early detection was very helpful and I am so grateful to be able to say that I am well today.'
Hope to Inspire Others
Reaching someone going through a similar experience is one of Kylie's goals for the project. She told Heart: 'There's a few emotional moments in the docuseries and that's life, that's life for all of us, so I hope that people see a reflection of themselves somewhere in the series.'
