Minogue recovering after surgery

Australian pop diva Kylie Minogue was recuperating yesterday after successful breast cancer surgery, as fans wished her a speedy recovery.

Ms Minogue, 36, underwent surgery for early breast cancer on Friday at a Melbourne hospital, and her surgeon was confident the cancer had been caught in time.

Local media reported that Ms Minogue left the Cabrini hospital in Melbourne on Saturday, but there was no indication where she would stay during her convalescence.

In Australia's capital, Canberra, tourists and fans flocked to an exhibition of more than 300 of Ms Minogue's touring costumes at the National Portrait Gallery, including a pair of hot pants worn in one raunchy music video.

"It has been a huge, and very popular exhibition," said gallery spokesman Suzie Campbell.

"Because the concerts were postponed, a lot of people have probably come to feel close to her by being able to relive her old concerts by seeing them on the exhibition's cinema screen, and through the costumes," she said.

Fans posted messages of support on Ms Minogue's official website www.kylie.com, while in Melbourne security guards were stationed at the street used to film the soap opera Neighbours, where Ms Minogue first found fame, to stop stray sightseers and the media.

Ms Minogue's surgeon, Dr Jenny Senior, gave no details about the operation or any follow-up procedures.

However, Dr Cindy Pam, a medical commentator on Australia's Network Seven, said breast surgery patients would normally undergo a course of radiotherapy.

"What extra treatments are required will depend on the size of the tumour and the grade of the tumour, as in how aggressive it is, and of course whether or not there is any spread to the lymph nodes," she said.

"The thing with breast cancer is it's sort of a long-term treatment. The main thing is you don't want to have any further recurrences."