Anyone can suffer from cancer – man and woman, young and old, celebrity or not, cancer can affect each one of us. Among all the known types of cancers, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women today.

About 1.3 million are diagnosed with breast cancer all over the world annually and 465, 000 die from this disease. But among those who have breast cancer, there are still a number of victims that survivors and non-survivors alike should celebrate and look up to.

Australian pop star Kylie Minogue is one of them. She has been voted the most inspirational breast cancer star for her willingness to speak openly and honestly about dealing with the disease.

Minogue topped an online poll of 1,000 participants by British-based mastectomy-wear specialist Amoena. "Kylie inspired many women to be more direct about their own fears, encouraging them to believe they would get through their ordeal,” Amoena spokeswoman Rhoda White said.

"Undergoing a mastectomy can badly damage a woman's body confidence and self-image, and celebrities like Kylie play a vital role in raising public awareness."

The pop star was diagnosed with cancer in 2005 and underwent surgery and hair-losing chemotherapy. But this didn’t stop her from doing what she loves most.

Kylie returned to the stage within a year and continues to perform. She was able to tour 21 countries last year, and just released her 11th studio album, "Aphrodite.”

Minogue is just one of the numerous celebrities to publicly battle breast cancer. Other celebrities include singer Sheryl Crow who campaigns for women to have regular mammograms, and British actress Lynn Redgrave who died of the disease earlier this year after writing a book about her battle.

The list also includes actresses Maggie Smith, Christine Applegate, Maura Tierney, Cynthia Nixon, Edie Falco, Jaclyn Smith, Kate Jackson, Sally Whittaker, singers Melissa Etheridge and Carly Simon, and U.S. TV anchorwoman Robin Roberts. (With a report from Reuters)