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London (dpa) - Nineteen-sixties' singer and actress Marianne Faithfull, 59, has been diagnosed with breast cancer, her publicist said Thursday.
Doctors in France, who diagnosed the disease, said it was in its "earliest stages," a statement released in London said. Her world tour, due to start next month, had been cancelled.
Faithfull, daughter of a British military officer and a Viennese baroness, came to prominence in the 1960s, not least because of her relationship with Rolling Stones lead singer Mick Jagger.
"The disease has been quickly discovered by doctors in France," said her publicist. "The prognosis for a return to full health is excellent."
"I have absolute faith and confidence in my fantastic medical team and of course I will be well again, if not better than ever," said Faithfull in a statement.
"Next year's tour, I want to assure fans, will be one big celebration," the statement added.
Faithfull has been a recording artist for four decades, since being discovered by Rolling Stones' manager Andrew Loog Oldham.
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards wrote her first single, "As Tears Go By," in 1964.
Her relationship with Jagger lasted throughout the late 1960s, and followed Faithfull's short-lived marriage to artist John Dunbar in 1965.
The singer later fought a vicious struggle with heroin addiction, which eventually led to a nervous breakdown.
Her modestly successful foray into films included roles in "Strange Weather" and the rock musical "Black Rider" by Robert Wilson.
Copyright 2006 dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
