Kylie Minogue reveals secret second cancer battle and motherhood heartbreak

EntertainmentHealth & Fitness
20 May 2026 • 5:58 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Kylie Minogue reveals secret second cancer battle and motherhood heartbreak

  • Kylie Minogue has revealed she was diagnosed with cancer for a second time in early 2021, following her initial breast cancer diagnosis and successful treatment in 2005.
  • The pop star, 57, kept her second diagnosis private, stating she was “a shell of a person” and struggled to find the right moment to disclose it, even during the promotion of her hit single “Padam Padam”.
  • During her first cancer battle in 2005, Minogue attempted IVF multiple times and even postponed chemotherapy in an effort to have children, though these attempts were ultimately unsuccessful.
  • Minogue expressed the emotional impact of not having children, writing her 2012 song 'Flower' about 'what might have been' and reflecting on her path not including motherhood.
  • These personal revelations are featured in her new three-part Netflix documentary, Kylie, which also covers her career resurgence, including her triumphant 2019 Glastonbury performance and recent chart success.

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