For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Taylor Swift has called on fans to encourage their parents to go for regular health checks following her mother’s unexpected diagnosis of cancer.
In an open letter posted to her tumblr , the singer wrote that she’d asked her mother to go for a routine check-up as a Christmas present “just to ease some worries of mine”.
“She agreed, and went in to get checked,” she continued.
“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.
“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.”
Taylor Swift career in picturesShow all 44 1 /44Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift performs onstage during the first ever Academy Of Country Music New Artists' Show Party for a Cause.
Getty Images
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift performs during the rehearsals for the 42nd Academy of Country Music Awards held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in 2007 in Las Vegas.
Getty Images
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift sings the national anthem before the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Colorado Rockies on opening day at Dodger Stadium on April 9, 2007 in Los Angeles, California.
Getty Images
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift arrives at the 41st Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards in 2006 in Las Vegas.
Getty Images
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift arrives at the 2007 CMT Music Awards in 2007 in Nashville.
Getty Images
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift arrives at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards.
Getty Images
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift performs onstage during day 2 of the 2008 Stagecoach Country Music Festival in 2008 in Indio, California.
Getty Images
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift arrives at the 43rd annual Academy Of Country Music Awards held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in 2008.
Getty Images
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift performs on stage during the 42nd Annual CMA Awards in 2008 in Nashville.
Getty Images
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift attends the 40th Annual CMA Awards in November 2006.
Getty Images
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift performs with her bling guitar on stage.
AP
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift performing at MTV EMAs.
Getty Images
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift in her new 'Blank Space' video.
YouTube
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures The album sleeve for Taylor Swift's 1989.
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift seems to have left her country roots behind her to pursue a poppier sound.
Getty Images
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures ...as she performs on ABC's 'Good Morning America' to promote her new album '1989' in New York
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift performs on stage at the MTV Video Music Awards 2014
Getty Images
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift's performance at this year's VMAs
Getty
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift crawls through the legs of twerking dancers in her 'Shake It Off' music video
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift at the 56th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles
Getty Images
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift arrives at the 2014 Grammys
GETTY
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift performed on the Victoria's Secret catwalk back in November last year
Getty
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures The Duke of Cambridge singing with Taylor Swift and Jon Bon Jovi at the Centrepoint Gala Dinner at Kensington Palace, London last year
PA
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift with her four gongs at the 2013 American Music Awards
Getty Images
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift's music appeared on the first ‘Hunger Games’ soundtrack
AP
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift poses in the press room during the 47th Annual CMA Awards holding her trophies
Getty Images
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Award winning Taylor Swift at the Video Music Awards
Getty Images
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift performing on stage with Ed Sheeran at the Capital FM Summertime Ball
PA
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift onstage at the Capital FM Summertime Ball at Wembley in London last year
PA
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift performs at the 2013 Brit Awards
Getty Images
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift on the red carpet of the Brit Awards 2013
Getty Images
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift at the Grammy Awards 2013
EPA
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift celebrates her three awards at the MTV EMA last night
Getty Images
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Singer Taylor Swift accepts the award for Best Live on stage at the MTV EMA's 2012
Getty Images
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift's roots are in country music
AP
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures US country music star Taylor Swift kicks off her world tour to support her album, 'Speak Now'
All rights reserved
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Singer Taylor Swift performs onstage during the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards
Getty Images
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift celebrates after winning the Best Country Album award for Fearless at the 52nd Grammy Awards
Getty Images
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Kanye West takes the microphone from best female video winner Taylor Swift as he praises the video entry from Beyonce at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards in New York
REUTERS/Gary Hershorn
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Swift finishes her previously interrupted acceptance speech for best female video as Beyonce watches at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards
REUTERS/Gary Hershorn
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Swift cultivating a huge teen following while on stage in 2009
REUTERS
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Swift's appearance at a country awards show in 2009
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Swift's album 'Fearless'
Taylor Swift career in pictures Taylor Swift career in pictures Times of innocence: Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift
AP
She ended by thanking her fans for caring about her 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.”
UK residents who are worried about themselves or their loved ones getting screened for cancer can get the information they need from the NHS website here.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies