Kylie Minogue has been told that her breast cancer has not spread to other parts of her body, making it easier for her surgeon to remove.

Her management said today that the 36-year-old is currently undergoing tests at a Melbourne hospital, where one of Australia’s leading surgeons will operate later this week.

The star postponed the final leg of her showgirl tour after receiving the devastating diagnosis while in Australia. She also announced that she would be pulling out of her headline appearance at Glastonbury.

In a brief statement, Minogue's manager, Terry Blamey, said: "Kylie is currently undergoing tests at a first class medical facility in Melbourne in preparation for an operation this week by one of Australia’s leading surgeons. Thankfully tests so far have confirmed the earlier diagnosis that the cancer appears to be confined to the breast."

In the same statement, Minogue added that she was being supported by her boyfriend, the French actor Olivier Martinez, as well as her family and friends.

"I want to reassure you that I am being well taken care of. Olivier is by my side and I have a lot of family and friends around me."

Messages of support have flooded in from around the world, including thousands that crashed her official website after news broke of her diagnosis.

Among Minogue’s friends who have offered messages of support are Sir Elton John, Ronan Keating and former Neighbours actress Delta Goodrem, who has fought her own battle against cancer.

Minogue thanked all those who had sent messages since the news broke of her diagnosis on Tuesday. "My heartfelt thanks to the incredible number of people who have sent messages of love and support over the last two days. I would also like to extend my best wishes to all of the other women around Australia and around the world who are dealing with the same illness," she said.

Kylie’s operation is expected to take place at Melbourne’s Cabrini Hospital. Since the cancer is still confined to her breast, the surgeons would try to remove just the cancerous growth, but might have to remove the whole breast. Cancer experts said the surgery would normally be followed by radiotherapy and possibly chemotherapy.

Along with her boyfriend, Minogue's parents, Ron and Carol, are believed to be at her side. Her brother Brenden is also understood to be with the singer and her sister Dannii is thought to be flying into Melbourne from London.

Mr Blamey said: "Kylie’s been touched by the many fans who have asked if they can send cards or flowers. She has suggested that instead well-wishers might like to make a small donation to the Cancer Council in her name."

Breast cancer is the biggest cause of cancer deaths in Australian women, unlike the United States and Britain where it is the second biggest killer behind lung cancer, according to the National Breast Cancer Centre in Sydney.

Almost 12,000 women are diagnosed with the disease each year in Australia. Latest available statistics show 2,594 women died from breast cancer in Australia in 2001.

But breast cancer in younger women, like Minogue, is rare, with only 600 women in their 30s diagnosed annually across the country.

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