Kylie is awaiting surgery back home in Melbourne

The 36-year-old singer revealed on Tuesday that she had been diagnosed with the disease, forcing the cancellation of her tour.

Initial tests showed that the cancer was confined to her breast, said her manager, Terry Blamey, in a statement.

According to Australian news agency AAP, the operation will happen at Melbourne's Cabrini Hospital.

"Kylie is currently undergoing tests at a first-class medical facility in preparation for an operation later this week by one of Australia's leading surgeons," Mr Blamey said.

17 years on top

Kylie Minogue returned to her family's home in Melbourne with French boyfriend Olivier Martinez following the diagnosis, cancelling the Australian and Asian legs of her Showgirl tour.

In a statement, she said she wanted to reassure her fans that she was being well taken care of.

"My heartfelt thanks to the incredible number of people who have sent messages of love and support over the last two days," she said.

Kylie has been a global pop star for 17 years, having first gained international attention in Australian TV soap opera Neighbours.

She has had 27 Top 10 hits in the UK ranging from her first number one, I Should Be So Lucky, in 1988, to her most recent hit, Giving You Up, which reached number six last month.

She is less well-known in the US, but hit the top 10 there in 2002 with her hit single Can't Get You Out of My Head and won a Grammy Award for best dance recording.