Swift's mother has cancer

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Taylor Swift's mother has cancer

Taylor Swift's mother has been diagnosed with cancer.

The 'Shake It Off' hitmaker asked her mom Andrea to ease her own worries by having a health check at Christmas and was devastated when tests showed she has been stricken by the disease.

Taylor wrote on Tumblr: "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."

Though the 25-year-old star declined to give the specifics of her mother's condition, she and Andrea hope it will encourage other young people to urge their parents to go for medical checks at the earliest signs something could be wrong.

She continued: "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."