Taylor Swift: ‘My mom has been diagnosed with cancer’

Taylor Swift’s mom, Andrea Swift, has cancer, the pop star revealed Thursday in “an update I wish I wasn’t giving you” on her usually upbeat and quirky Tumblr page, shared on Twitter with a simple “Just so you know” introduction.

“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,” TSwift explained before delivering the news.

“I’d like to keep the details of her condition and treatment plans private, but she wanted you to know.”

This life event was different for her than most, the “Blank Space” singer said, in that she usually chooses to process things and write about them and eventually the world hears about what’s gone on with her -- but she decided to go public with this news in a timely manner.

Noting that her mother, 57, won’t be at as many concerts in the days to come because she has an “important battle to fight,” the 25-year-old also said her mom “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.”

Response on Twitter, under the #PrayForMamaSwift hashtag, was emotional and supportive, with some fans saying they would be disappointed, of course, but would understand if their idol canceled shows to be with her mom.

“I hope and pray,” Taylor wrote, “that you never get news like this.”

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