Minogue was due to end her world tour at the Glastonbury Festival

"Whilst at home in Melbourne with her family this week, Kylie was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer," her tour company Frontier Touring said.

"Hopefully all will work out fine and I'll be back with you all again soon," the singer said in a statement.

Minogue, 36, has had a total of 37 hit singles in the UK.

Immediate treatment

She had been due to begin the 20-date Australian leg of her current worldwide Showgirl tour in Sydney on Thursday.

The tour company added: "She will undergo immediate treatment and consequently her Australian tour will not be able to proceed as planned."

BREAST CANCER BASICS Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK One in every nine women in the UK will develop breast cancer at some point in her life It is the leading cause of death for women aged 34 to 54 Earlier detection and better treatments have improved mortality rates Physical examination and regular screening can detect a potential problem

Medical Notes: Breast Cancer

Minogue said she was disappointed at having to postpone the shows.

"I was so looking forward to bringing the Showgirl tour to Australian audiences, and am sorry to have to disappoint my fans," she said.

Minogue, who rose to fame in the 1980s as an actress in the popular soap opera Neighbours and later launched a pop career, was due to play six shows in Sydney from Thursday.

She was also scheduled to tour Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth over the next month.

Having opened the tour at Glasgow's SECC Arena in March, Minogue had been due to end it with a headline appearance at the Glastonbury Festival.

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Australian concert promoter Michael Gudinski said: "She is a pretty fit, strong girl. I'm hoping and praying because the doctor found it so early that everything will be OK."

He added: "Our thoughts, and I'm sure all the legions of Kylie's fans, will be with her all the way."

Glastonbury festival co-organiser Emily Eavis said: "It's really sad news for Kylie. Our thoughts are with her and her family at this very difficult time."

Minogue had been due to close the festival at Pilton, Somerset, on 26 June. "It's much too early to speculate who may replace Kylie in the programme," Ms Eavis said.

Minogue's pop star sister Dannii said: "The news is very upsetting. Although as the cancer has been diagnosed at such an early stage we are all very optimistic that everything will be OK.

"We're all very thankful for the endless messages of love and support Kylie has been receiving - I know all your kind thoughts will mean the world to her as she gets better."

'Stab to the heart'

Former Neighbours co-star and boyfriend Jason Donovan offered his support to the singer.

"I sincerely wish her well with her treatment, Kylie is a strong woman who will fight this battle on every front," said Donovan.

Actress Anne Charleston, who also starred alongside Minogue in Neighbours, shared her sympathy with her, telling GMTV: "When I heard it was like a stab to the heart because it happened to me at that same age."

Minogue started her world tour at Glasgow's SECC Arena in March

Producer Pete Waterman, who helped launch Kylie's pop career in 1988, said: "I am so shocked to hear this news, particularly since (songwriter) Mike Stock and I had a very poignant reunion with her at her recent Earls Court gig where there were a lot of hugs and kisses.

"My very best wishes go to her, and of course her family, at this difficult time."

Minogue has helped raise money for breast cancer causes over recent years and one of her skimpiest bras was sold at auction for £2,400 three years ago for Breast Cancer Care.

Breast Cancer Campaign spokesman Sangeeta Haindl said: "This is sad news about Kylie, a pop star that many of us have grown up with over the years, who has now been diagnosed with breast cancer.

"However, it is important to remember that this is not primarily a young women's disease and there are still 40,470 women diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK each year.

"This is why it's important that women are breast-aware and know the risks associated with the disease."