Tina Knowles, mother of Beyoncé and Solange, has publicly shared her recent battle with breast cancer. In an interview with CBS Mornings, the 71-year-old revealed that she was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer in her left breast after doctors discovered two tumors during a delayed mammogram appointment.
“I’ve always tried to take care of myself. I just … was in disbelief,” Knowles told CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King. She explained that she missed her routine screening during the COVID-19 pandemic and didn’t reschedule until last year. Doctors then found two tumors. One was benign, and the other had stage 1 cancer.
Knowles underwent a lumpectomy in August to remove the cancerous tumor. She is now cancer-free.
Family Support During Recovery
Throughout her health scare, Knowles leaned on her daughters Beyoncé and Solange, along with Kelly Rowland and niece Angie Beyincé, for support. “My girls became my team,” she shared. Beyoncé “took it well, staying positive, and I could already feel her mind racing, focusing on this as a task to tackle with precision,” Knowles revealed. Solange told her, “Mom, we are going to take care of this.”
Before her surgery, Knowles was nervous, but her family helped ease her anxiety. They watched a viral video together, and Solange and Angie sang “Walk With Me,” a song about divine protection. “I went in there feeling just like God has got me,” Knowles said.
Tina Knowles Sharing Her Story to Raise Awareness
Knowles initially struggled with whether to share her health journey but decided to include it in her upcoming memoir, “Matriarch,” hoping to raise awareness and encourage early detection. “I want to show people you can go … ,” she told People.
She emphasized the importance of regular screenings, noting that if she had maintained her routine, the cancer might have been detected at an earlier stage. “If I had not gotten my … ,” she said.
Now, Knowles is focused on inspiring others with her story and encouraging women not to delay screenings. “I’m doing great. Cancer-free and … ,” she said.