KYLIE’S CANCER

Yesterday on Melbourne’s 3aw i broke the sad and shocking news that Kylie Minogue has breast cancer and has [postponed – if not cancelled -- her Australian tour which was due to start in Sydney later this week.

Kylie, undoubtedly Australia’s most successful artist internationally, ever, started treatment here in Melbourne today. Surrounded by family and friends. Yesterday I talked on air to 3AW entertainment correspondent Peter Ford and the music guru Michael Gudinski who had organised her latest Australian tour.

I understand Kylie also had lunch yesterday with Olivia Newton-John who had her own battle with breast cancer. Both women have been awesome in their support of breast cancer awareness and their fund-raising for the cause.

A caller took me to task yesterday because we devoted time to the Kylie story. He claimed a lot of women get breast cancer so why single her out. The fact is when a famous person gets sick it IS news. When Elizabeth Taylor dies it will be news. It does not belittle other women, anonymous women, who suffer the same fate. But it is news.

The Melbourne Herald Sun today thought it was news. Although, personally, I thought they went over the top devoting their first nine pages to Kylie Minogue’s health.

But there is an upside to this. Breast cancer is something that wasn’t really talked about that much not that many years ago. It was “women’s business”. It is talked about now. Hence the dramatic “pink” demonstration at the MCG the other day.

Women (and men) are taking notice. Women are checking their breasts for suspicious lumps and going to the doctor more. If caught early, I understand that eighty per cent of women with breast cancer will survive.

It is not necessarily a death sentence these days. Caught early. Women are more alert and more aware. And Kylie’s condition will make that even more so. The way that men now are aware of prostate cancer and what it can do to you.

Also there have been dramatic surgical breakthroughs. Women no longer suffer radical extreme mastectomies except in extreme cases. Breasts can be cleverly rebuilt by skilled cosmetic surgeons. And lives can successfully go on. As Australia hopes it will for Kylie Minogue.

Wednesday, May 19, 2005

©Copyright Derryn Hinch 2005