Taylor Swift revealed her mother Andrea has been diagnosed with cancer in an emotional post online.
The 25-year-old singer wrote a note on her Tumblr page on Thursday to share the news with her fans. Swift says during Christmas last year, instead of buying gifts, she asked her mother to go for a check-up with her doctor. Her 57-year-old mother was subsequently diagnosed with cancer, even after doctors didn't initially see any red flags. The singer says the details of her mother's condition and treatment remain private.
With thousands of responses from her fans demonstrating their support, Swift says this is also a good reminder to tell the people in our lives to get checked on a regular basis, especially our loved ones.
"She [her mother] wanted you to know because your parents may be too busy juggling everything they’ve got going on to go to the doctor, and maybe you reminding them to go get checked for cancer could possibly lead to an early diagnosis and an easier battle… Or peace of mind in knowing that they’re healthy and there’s nothing to worry about," she writes.
According to epidemiologist Graham A. Colditz, half of cancers are preventable, which is why it's always important to get checked out sooner rather than later. Lifestyle factors include avoiding smoking, eating a healthy diet and avoiding tanning beds, for example, to lower your risk for the disease.
Here is the full message Swift posted on Tumblr:
Hey guys,
I’m writing to you with an update I wish I wasn’t giving you, but it’s important and I’m used to sharing important events in my life with you. Usually when things happen to me, I process them and then write music about how I feel, and you hear it much later.
This is something my family and I thought you should know about now.
For Christmas this year, I asked my mom that one of her gifts to me be her going to the doctor to get screened for any health issues, just to ease some worries of mine. She agreed, and went in to get checked. There were no red flags and she felt perfectly fine, but she did it just to get me and my brother off her case about it.
The results came in, and I’m saddened to tell you that my mom has been diagnosed with cancer. I’d like to keep the details of her condition and treatment plans private, but she wanted you to know.
She wanted you to know because your parents may be too busy juggling everything they’ve got going on to go to the doctor, and maybe you reminding them to go get checked for cancer could possibly lead to an early diagnosis and an easier battle… Or peace of mind in knowing that they’re healthy and there’s nothing to worry about. She wanted you to know why she may not be at as many shows this tour. She’s got an important battle to fight.
Thank you for caring about my family so much that she would want me to share this information with you.
I hope and pray that you never get news like this.
Love you.
Taylor
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