Kylie Minogue reflects on cancer battle two decades on ahead of new Netflix docuseries

Kylie Minogue has reflected on her breast cancer journey two decades after her diagnosis, saying the experience remains deeply present in her life today as she prepares to share her story in a new documentary series.

In a recent interview with BBC London, the 57-year-old pop icon spoke candidly about being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, describing it as a life-altering shock that continues to shape her perspective.

“Where do I even start? Shock,” Minogue said. “You're trying to understand something you've never thought about before. It's a crash course.”

She added that the emotional impact of the diagnosis has never fully faded.

“It’s very deep and extended and it's still with me today in many ways,” she said.

Minogue, who was declared cancer-free in 2006, is also revisiting her journey in a new Kylie, which explores her personal and professional life and begins streaming May 20.

In the series’ trailer, she recalls the fear surrounding her diagnosis.

“I felt removed from my body,” she says. “I was so scared of what was ahead of me.”

Her sister, Dannii Minogue, also appears in the series, reflecting on the uncertainty of that time. “We didn’t know if she was ever going to be well again,” she says.

Minogue has previously described her cancer experience as “trauma,” telling CBS News in 2023 that while it changed her life, it also deepened her awareness of herself and the support around her.

“It’s trauma, and any trauma resides within you,” she said. “The experience of a cancer diagnosis will live in me. It was difficult. It was also amazing.”

She added that the experience sharpened her sense of gratitude and self-awareness.

Minogue has often credited her music and performance with helping her process difficult emotions throughout her career.

“I sing to process everything, I think. I write to process. I perform to process,” she said. “And sometimes I think I live to perform.”

Now, 20 years after her diagnosis, Minogue continues to balance reflection with her ongoing career, including her recent performances on her Tension Tour, while using her platform to speak openly about illness, resilience, and recovery.