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Kylie: I am a fighter
BRAVE Kylie Minogue yesterday vowed to conquer breast cancer, telling her family: "I am a fighter and I will beat this."
The tiny songbird - plagued recently by unexplained weariness - made the pledge after doctors in Australia gave her the devastating news that she has the disease.
Kylie, 37 later this month, immediately axed the final leg of her Showgirl world tour to seek urgent medical treatment.
She is expected to go into hospital today, possibly for surgery.
But hopes of a complete recovery are high as the cancer has been detected early.
The London-based Aussie's millions of fans worldwide were last night willing her back to health - and she was bombarded with "get well" messages from them and a host of showbiz pals.
The diagnosis came just four days after an apparently carefree Kylie frolicked with lover Olivier Martinez on an idyllic island.
French actor Olivier, 39, instantly put his movie career on hold to be at Kylie's side as her "rock".
He told the singer: "This is our fight. I'm not going anywhere. I'm here for you now and nothing else matters. Just get well."
Kylie took Olivier to French Island, a nature reserve off Melbourne's shoreline, to show him the £200,000 hideaway she has bought with sister Dannii and brother Brendan.
The star's mum Carol, dad Ron and another man thought to be cameraman Brendan enjoyed a tranquil day out during which Kylie and Olivier hugged, kissed and playfully tossed pebbles into the sea.
Dannii, 33, who stayed at home in Battersea, South West London, dropped recording work on an album and cancelled a scheduled trip to Paris as soon as she learned of her cherished sister's plight.
She made plans to fly to Australia and had several long, tearful phone conversations with the stricken star.
Kylie - best known for mega hits I Should Be So Lucky and Can't Get You Out Of My Head - first complained of feeling exhausted ten days ago in the sell-out UK leg of the Showgirl tour.
Friends blamed it on her hectic schedule and thought a few good sleeps and a handful of vitamin pills would do the trick.
But Kylie looked pale and shivery when she stepped off a flight from London to Melbourne a week ago to prepare for the Australian dates that would have wrapped up the tour.
KYLIE'S STATEMENT
I was so looking forward to bringing the Showgirl tour to Australian audiences and am sorry to have to disappoint my fans. Hopefully all will work out fine and I'll be back with you all again soon.
She was joined by heart-throb Olivier, her boyfriend of two years. And the pair checked into a suite at Melbourne's five-star Park Hyatt hotel.
Soon after, they visited the Minogue family home in the swish suburb of Canterbury.
Kylie's mum and Olivier urged her to see a doctor, who referred her to a specialist for tests.
But on Friday, unaware of the seriousness of her condition, the family group headed out to French Island - a koala sanctuary - on a rickety ferry.
They pored over maps before taking a wildlife-spotting tour of scenic spots.
Kylie and Olivier - defying movie company bosses who wanted him at the Cannes Film Festival in France - were clearly ecstatic at being together after weeks apart.
They embraced at every opportunity and stole intimate clinches.
Breast cancer is confirmed with a biopsy, where a needle goes into the breast to remove tissue for analysis.
In Australia, results can take between 24 and 48 hours.
Kylie's dad fought a successful battle against prostate cancer four years ago. And ironically, she recently told how she has been inspired by his courage.
On Sunday, former Neighbours actress Kylie and Olivier had a romantic champagne dinner at Donovans waterside restaurant.
But 36 hours later, their happiness turned to shock as the bombshell test results were passed on to the singer.
The diagnosis for such a world famous figure immediately catapulted breast cancer to the forefront of medical issues.
Kylie broke the news to Olivier and her family - including her beloved gran Millie, who emigrated to Australia but happened to be on a visit to Britain yesterday.
Next she called long-time manager Terry Blamey, who pulled the plug on her tour, due to have kicked off in Sydney tomorrow.
Kylie then issued a brief statement apologising to fans for the cancellation - and promising to bounce back soon.
She was also forced to cancel her eagerly anticipated appearance at next month's Glastonbury festival.
Yesterday afternoon, the pop princess shared an emotional lunch with Grease star and fellow Aussie Olivia Newton-John, who beat breast cancer in the 1980s.
Showgirl promoter and close friend Michael Gudinski described Kylie as "fit and strong".
And he said: "I'm praying because the doctor found it so early that everything will be OK. She has a few tough weeks ahead. But one thing I know about Kylie is that she's a fighter."
Olivier cancelled a flight to Los Angeles, where he was due for filming. And he told his agent he will be with Kylie until further notice.
The actor's ex-boxer dad Robert said: "That's all he wants now. Anything else is unimportant."
Kylie treated relatives in Britain to a Showgirl gig in Manchester a fortnight ago.
Cousin Mel Thomas, 47, a chef of Pwllheli, North Wales, said: "This is a terrible shock."
Kylie has been a key player in breast cancer awareness campaigns. In 2002, she sold one of her bras for £4,000 at a charity auction.
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