Kylie needs year off

Kylie Minogue will need to take a year off while she is treated for breast cancer, after doctors discovered the illness is worse than they suspected.

The singer had surgery on May 21 to remove a cancerous lump and doctors hoped they had caught the disease before it had spread.

But they now fear the cancer has taken more of a hold.

Kylie, who is currently undergoing radiotherapy at hospital near her home in Melbourne, Australia, will need to undergo six months of intensive therapy - and a further six months to recuperate.

A source says: "It had been hoped that she might be back by the end of the year to do all the gigs she cancelled but that is not going to happen.

"She has a long journey ahead of her before she can even think about going back to work.

"She has been told to expect at least six months of therapy. It will then take her a long time to get back into good enough shape to undergo gruelling tours.

"She is on the road to recovery, and she isn't going to die, but this is serious and it's going to take time."