Breast screening doubled in Australia after Kylie's cancer scare

It seems Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue's brush with breast cancer has had an effect than might not have been initially considered.

Apparently after the 37-year-old singer had a lump removed from her breast in Melbourne on May 20, requests from older women for mammograms doubled.

Sydney University researcher Professor Simon Chapman has revealed there was a 100-percent increase, which is unprecedented in the history of the screening programme in Australia.

He says there appears to be a silver lining to Kylie Minogue's diagnosis in that, without doubt, a large number of women have done something very positive for their own health.

Professor Chapman said the star's 'girl-next-door persona', had increased the impact of her diagnosis, and an analysis of the media's coverage showed an emphasis on this, which many could identify and empathise with.

Minogue, who lives in London, was forced to postpone the Australian and Asian legs of her Showgirl tour when the lump was discovered.

Her parents and brother live in Melbourne and she returned to her hometown last month for treatment.