Doctors didn't spot my breast cancer at first, Kylie reveals

After an initial check-up, the singer was told she had "nothing to worry about".

She was only correctly diagnosed when she decided to seek a second opinion midway through her Showgirl tour a few weeks later in May 2005.

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At that point, 39-year-old Miss Minogue was forced to pull out of the tour to start treatment and chemotherapy.

The Australian star, who went on to beat the disease, spoke out about the misdiagnosis for the first time during an interview on U.S. comedienne Ellen DeGeneres's talk show.

She went on to urge other women to seek a second opinion if they are unhappy with their first diagnosis.

She said she had been prompted by an earlier discussion between Miss DeGeneres and Hillary Clinton on the importance of early breast cancer detection.

Miss Minogue said: "Listen, this is an opportunity for me to say something that I have not said before. I was misdiagnosed initially.

"So my message to all of you and everyone at home is: Because someone is in a white coat and using big medical instruments doesn't necessarily mean [he or she is] right."

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Miss Minogue added: "I was watching the senator before and I back her up 100 per cent that it's in the diagnosis and the early treatment. So yeah, I actually did my Showgirl tour having been for a check-up and told everything was fine."

It was when she went for a second medical appointment that she discovered she had breast cancer.

"If you have any doubt, go back again," she said.

Miss Minogue went on: "I had no intention of saying that today. But with what you were talking about before, I didn't realise it was a subject so close to your heart as well."

The singer is in the U.S. promoting her album, X, which was released there last week.

In a statement released after Monday's broadcast, she said: "I have a great respect for the medical profession and the numerous, in fact countless, people who helped me on my road back to health.

"I am in the very best of hands now but it is a fact that my initial diagnosis was that I was 'all right, and had nothing to worry about'.

"A few weeks later this was clearly not the case.

"Early diagnosis and prompt treatment is the key for any woman diagnosed with breast cancer."

After the diagnosis, Miss Minogue underwent a year of treatment, including a partial mastectomy to remove a malignant tumour, followed by eight months of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

In July 2006 she announced she was in remission and resumed the Showgirl tour with a series of triumphant shows.

Last December she became an OBE in the New Year's Honours list.