Anastacia: Heartbreak As Breast Cancer Returns

Anastacia has been diagnosed with breast cancer again - having successfully battled the disease 10 years ago.

The US singer, who is best known for the song I'm Outta Love, made the announcement in a statement on her Facebook page.

She was originally diagnosed with the condition in 2003 when she saw a surgeon about having her breasts reduced because they were causing her back strain.

Anastacia has now told fans that because of the new diagnosis she has been forced to cancel plans for a forthcoming tour of Europe which had been due to start in London on April 6.

The singer said: "I feel so awful to be letting down all my amazing fans who were looking forward to (my) It's A Man's World Tour.

"It just breaks my heart to disappoint them."

The 44-year-old shot to fame in 2000 with the release of I'm Outta Love, her debut single. It was number one in several countries in Europe and reached number six in the UK.

The album from which the single was taken, Not That Kind, made it to number two in the UK charts and was in the Top 10 in most European or Antipodean album charts.

Her follow-up album Freak Of Nature, which was released in 2001, went triple platinum and was also a hit around continental Europe.

The entertainment world was shocked when in 2003 she went for a routine mammogram only to be told she had breast cancer at the age of 34.

Anastacia immediately had surgery and started treatment, and soon after was told she was in remission.

The album and singles she released after recovering from the disease were highly popular, and in recent years she continued to record and tour to moderate success.

Although she has not reached the level of sales she did in the early 2000s, she was a guest judge in the 2012 series of The X Factor.

It is not known what her treatment will involve this time.

She said she would continue writing and recording her new album, and hoped to schedule a new tour as soon as possible.