Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue is recovering at her family’s Melbourne home after successful breast cancer surgery.

"Kylie is currently resting after the operation - she has friends and family around her, and her spirits are high," said a statement on Kylie.com.

Minogue, 36, underwent surgery for breast cancer on Friday (May 20) at St Frances Xavier Cabrini Hospital in Melbourne, Australia.

Her surgeon, Dr Jenny Senior, said that she was "confident that we caught the cancer in time and that she is now on the road to complete recovery".

"Kylie has been the perfect patient and has charmed all my staff. I just wish I could have met her under happier circumstances," she added.

Fortunately the disease was detected at an early stage and it appears that the cancer cells have not spread to other parts of her body.

Minogue, who will be 37 later this month, now faces the prospect of undergoing either radiotherapy or chemotherapy over the next few months to kill off any remaining cells.

Diagnosed last Tuesday (May 17), Minogue's illness has forced her to cancel both the Australian and Asian legs of her Showgirl Tour, as well as her appearance at the Glastonbury festival in England at the end of June.

The former Neighbours actress has worked to raise money for breast cancer over recent years and has regularly worked to publicise Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women (after lung cancer) worldwide and is the most common type of cancer found among women in the world.