Popular singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, 33, and mom Andrea Swift, 65, were at the center of a viral social media video as she joyously watched her daughter on the red carpet. The clip has added meaning because the two-time breast cancer survivor greatly influences her famous daughter.
Andrea was diagnosed with cancer in 2015 and again in 2019. In 2020, she also dealt with a brain tumor that was discovered amid chemotherapy treatments.
Taylor dedicated several songs to her mom following her cancer diagnosis. A diagnosis of cancer or disease can impact family members almost as much as the patient. Feelings of “helplessness, guilt, anger, and embarrassment” are commonly experienced, according to researchers.
Loved ones of people battling a disease or cancer can show their support by getting involved and showing that you care, which can relieve added stress and anxiety. Helping with everyday tasks such as household chores or meal preparation is a great way to show support.
Andrea Swift, 65, the mother of award-winning singer Taylor Swift, 33, struggles to hold back tears of joy, excitement, and gratitude as her famous daughter continues to be awash in success. A heartwarming video circulating social media shows Andrea looking at Taylor on the red carpet for the premiere of Eras Tour.”
As a two-time breast cancer survivor, Andrea’s brave journey greatly impacted Taylor over the years and, in some cases, helped fuel the “Shake It Off” singer’s success.
Taylor’s parents have been heavily influential in her success. Swift doesn’t shy away from giving her mom well-deserved flowers whenever possible. Amid her mom’s breast cancer battle, Taylor wrote a song dedicated to her mom called “The Best Day.” The lyrics include the notable line, “…And I love you for giving me your eyes. Staying back and watching me shine…”
Another song dedicated to Andrea includes “Soon You’ll Get Better.”
Swift told a crowd at the Global Citizen’s “One World, Together at Home” concert in 2020, “That’s a song I don’t know if I’ll ever play it live. It’s just really difficult for me. It was hard to write. It’s hard to sing. It’s hard to listen to for me,” CNN reports.
Andrea Swift’s Battles with Cancer
Andrea Swift is a two-time breast cancer survivor following her first diagnosis in 2015 and then again in 2019. She also dealt with a brain tumor doctors discovered while she was undergoing chemotherapy.
After sharing her mom’s diagnosis on social media with her fans, Taylor noted that her mom “may not be at as many shows” to focus on her cancer treatment entertainment media outlet Distractify reports.
Young Taylor Swift with her mother, Andrea. (Photo credit: GoFundMe)
“The symptoms of what a person goes through when they have a brain tumor is nothing like what we’ve ever been through with her cancer before. So it’s just been a really hard time for us as a family,” Taylor Swift told Variety during an interview.
Heading into 2024, it remains unclear how specifics about Andrea’s breast cancer and the status of ongoing treatment.
Although the “Anti-Hero” singer hasn’t revealed explicit details about her mom’s diagnosis, recently, we’ve covered instances of breast cancer spreading. In fact, “Beverly Hills 90210” actress Shannen Doherty, 52, metastatic breast cancer journey includes her cancer spreading to her brain that required brain surgery. Metastatic breast cancer often presents as a recurrence of a prior early-stage breast cancer, although it can be a new diagnosis.
Understanding Metastatic Breast Cancer
Metastatic breast cancer (Stage 4) means the cancer has spread beyond the breast and into other parts of the body. Although metastatic breast cancer is more difficult to treat compared to cancer in earlier stages, treatment options still exist.
Hormone therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted drugs are all options to talk to her doctor about, depending on your individual needs. Sometimes surgery or radiation are considered part of the treatment, but it is important to focus on improving your quality of life.
WATCH: Metastatic Breast Cancer and Biomarkers.
The treatment plan for metastatic breast cancer patients depends on the specific needs of the woman, whether they need aggressive chemotherapy or, depending on the doctor’s assessment, they may benefit from another medication.
How to Support a Loved One Facing a Health Challenge
If you have a loved one fighting a disease or cancer, SurvivorNet has some ideas to help you better support your loved one. Simple tasks like helping with household chores or running errands can do wonders for your loved one who’s diagnosed. These tasks can make all the difference in relieving stress when the effect of chemotherapy brings fatigue, for example. Other ideas to help your loved one battling cancer include cooking, bringing prepared meals, or doing an activity you enjoy together.
The support helps put your loved one battling a disease or cancer more at ease, which may be filled with anxiety after a diagnosis or amid intense treatment.
“There are a number of common things cancer patients can experience,” Dr. Shelly Tworoger, a researcher at Moffitt Cancer Center, told SurvivorNet.
“Anxiety, depression, financial toxicity, social isolation, and PTSD,” Dr. Tworoger said, are all emotions cancer warriors may experience and can be eased by loved ones.
If you are a caregiver of your loved one facing a diagnosis, it is important to maintain your own mental and physical health as well.
“Caregiving is the most important job in the universe because you are there through the highs and lows,” Julie Bulger, manager of patient and family-centered care at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, told SurvivorNet.
Caregivers must also watch out for “caregiver burnout,” where stress, anger, fatigue, and illness emerge from putting another person’s needs ahead of their own.
Caregivers who find themselves struggling to care for a cancer warrior should seek out a therapist or a support group of their own, either online or in person.
Impact a Diagnosis Can Have on the Family
Research published in The Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine studied the impact of disease on family members. It found, “Most chronic diseases have similar effects on family members including psychological and emotional functioning, disruption of leisure activities, effect on interpersonal relationships, and financial resources.”
Feelings of “helplessness, lack of control, guilt, anger, and embarrassment” are some common emotions parents, siblings, and other relatives within the household of someone battling a health condition may experience, according to researchers.
Other ways a disease, for example, may impact the lives of family members include:
Affecting sleep
Concerns about medical treatment
Altered food choices
Using religion, spiritual, and cultural beliefs to cope
Feeling obligated to provide a case
Concerns about understanding the disease or illness
Needing support from others
Limited freedom
Worrying about the death of a loved one
Another study published in Health Expectations, an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy, says parents bear the brunt when a child is battling a health condition.
“Parents have substantial responsibilities, including advocating for their child,” researchers said in the study.
“[Parents] responsibilities have an enormous impact on the family: going out of the home becomes a challenge, there are constant constraints on time, parents are sleep-deprived, and there are wider impacts on siblings,” researchers added.
When families come together to collectively face a health challenge, it strengthens family bonds and helps everyone involved cope.
