Focusing on the Positive After Cancer
- Singer and actress Kylie Minogue, 55, wows onlookers on the red carpet with her shimmering transparent dress and youthful look she attributes to her talented makeup artists, who highlighted her signature sexy look with red lipstick.
- During Minogue’s music and television career, she also battled breast cancer at a relatively young age. She was diagnosed with the disease in 2005 and underwent a lumpectomy where only the tumor and some of the surrounding tissues were removed. She also received chemotherapy before she was declared “cancer-free” a year later.
- Minogue still reflects on her cancer journey nearly 20 years later. Coping with a cancer diagnosis can be a stressful experience affecting your mental health. Reaching out to a mental health professional can help you cope. Adjusting lifestyle habits (like diet and exercise) and seeking a support group are also helpful.
Singer and actress Kylie Minogue continues to dazzle fans at 55 as she walks the red carpet wearing a transparent, shimmering gown. The award-winning artist received massive praise for her youthful looks, and she credits her talented makeup artist for the event.
“I took inspiration from her noughties days with the sultry, sexy eyes and the iconic red lip Kylie is known for,” Minogue’s makeup artist Daniel Sallstrom explained to the Dailymail’s FEMAIL brand during an interview.
Read More
“Perfection! If she were single and fancied a 50-year-old who likes history and escaping from things, I’d be interested!” Instagram user Richard Hayler commented, shooting his shot in a tongue-in-cheek fashion.
Expert Resources on Breast Cancer Treatments
Kylie’s Breast Cancer Diagnosis Made Her Feel Like ‘The Earth Slipped Off Its Axis’
Minogue was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005. She said upon her diagnosis, “It was like the Earth had kind of slipped off its axis. You see everything differently,” she previously told People Magazine.
“I remember having had my diagnosis, but the world didn’t know. I was with my brother and boyfriend at the time – we were all in a daze,” Minogue explained.
While specific details of the “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” singer’s diagnosis remain unclear, she said she underwent a treatment that included a lumpectomy and chemotherapy.
During this form of surgery, surgeons work to remove the cancer or abnormal tissue from the breast. A lumpectomy is also called breast-conserving surgery because, unlike mastectomy, only the tumor and some of the surrounding tissues are removed.
WATCH: How to Decide If a Lumpectomy or Mastectomy Is Best?
Minogue’s treatment helped her reach remission. She was declared “cancer-free” in early 2006, People Magazine reports.
The surgery typically takes about an hour and is outpatient, meaning a patient can go home the same day. “It’s abnormal to have a lot of pain after a lumpectomy,” says Dr. Sarah Cate, Chief of Breast Surgery at Stamford Hospital.
WATCH: What’s the Recovery from a Lumpectomy Like?
Many years later, Minogue says her cancer journey still lives with her.
“The experience of a cancer diagnosis will live in me. It was difficult, and it was also amazing in that you’re very well aware of your body and of the love that’s around you and of your capability,” Minogue told the Independent.
“I write to process. I perform to process, and sometimes I think I live to perform,” Minogue said.
Coping With a Breast Cancer Diagnosis
If you are facing a breast cancer diagnosis, your emotions are likely to run high, which is entirely normal. Psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik says emotions are often fluid when coping with a diagnosis.
“The patient or person going through the stressful event should accept that emotions will be fluid. You may feel fine one day and then feel a massive wave of stress the next. It’s also important for those you look to for support, whether that’s a therapist, friends, and family, or both, to understand the fluidity of stress-related emotions,” Dr. Plutchik said.
If a stressful event affects how you think and feel, it may be time to seek mental health treatment. This could mean traditional talk therapy, medication, changing lifestyle habits (like exercise and diet), seeking a support group, or many other approaches.
Women needing a little extra help coping with a breast cancer diagnosis should consider the following.
- Let your family and close friends know and let them help. So many cancer survivors tell us they want and need support but are often too preoccupied to make specific requests. Urge those close to you to jump in with whatever practical help they can offer.
- Keep a journal. It can be highly cathartic to let those feelings loose on paper. Grab a pen and a lovely journal and chronicle your thoughts throughout the day.
- Join a cancer support group. Groups are available in nearly every community and offer opportunities to connect with others going through a similar journey. You’ll learn constructive insight from others who can tell you what to expect and how to stay strong on tough days.
- Consider seeing a therapist. Ask your doctor to refer you to a therapist so you can discuss your fears and concerns in a safe space. Often, vocalizing your thoughts and feelings rather than internalizing them can provide relief.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, you may have questions about how to keep your strength through treatment. Here are a few questions to help you begin the conversation:
- What treatment will I be receiving?
- What side effects are associated with this treatment?
- Are there steps I can take daily to help minimize these side effects?
- What physical activity routine do you recommend for me during treatment?
- Do you have recommendations for someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy exercise?
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
