Kylie Minogue's status as a style icon and global pop star has ensured her every move is followed by millions of fans: when she announced she had breast cancer earlier this year, thousands of women went to their doctors after checking for suspicious lumps in the wake of the publicity.

Now Kylie, 37, aware of her influence, has hit out at stories about her battle with the disease, in particular urging the fans to ignore reports she was seeking alternative therapy. A statement issued on her behalf said: 'Despite the wealth of rumours to the contrary, Kylie is in good spirits and is as healthy as can be expected whilst undergoing her treatment regime in Paris.

'She has asked her fans please not to believe stories of dramatic weight loss and desperate searches for alternative therapy. Kylie has made it clear to her representatives that she doesn't want fellow sufferers to be misguided by the false stories regarding her condition and her choice of doctors.'

Several papers carried reported last week that she had come to London to seek treatment from Dr Joshi, an expert in holistic medicine whose celebrity clients include Gwyneth Paltrow, Cate Blanchett, Ralph Fiennes, Kate Moss and Patsy Kensit.

Kylie's weight was rumoured to have dropped to six stone, and she was described by a source close to the family of her boyfriend Olivier Martinez as 'weak and vulnerable'.

Joshi's regime involves cutting out red meat, wheat, potatoes, fruits, alcohol and dairy products. He also uses a range of alternative therapies including 'cupping', where heated cups are used to 'draw toxins from the skin', acupuncture, Ayurvedic medicine and homeopathy.

Kylie was diagnosed last May. She had a lump removed at the St Frances Xavier Cabrini Hospital in Melbourne by surgeon Jenny Senior, who said then she was confident the cancer had been caught in time. She has been having chemotherapy in Paris since July.