Tina Knowles, the mother of music icons Beyoncé and Solange, is sharing her emotional journey through breast cancer for the first time. In a recent interview with CBS Mornings and People magazine, the 70-year-old matriarch revealed how a missed mammogram during the COVID-19 pandemic led to a life-altering diagnosis.
Knowles explained that her routine mammogram was canceled at the start of the pandemic. Like many, she assumed she would be contacted once it was safe to reschedule. But time passed, and the appointment slipped her mind.
“I had forgotten that I hadn’t gotten it done two years ago because COVID was happening,” she told People. “They called and canceled my exam and said, ‘I’ll get back to you when we start it back up.’ I thought I was done. So this thing is not fun.”
Diagnosis: One Benign Tumor, One Malignant
When Knowles eventually rescheduled her screening last year, doctors found two tumors in her left breast—one benign and the other diagnosed as stage 1 breast cancer.
“I’ve always tried to take care of myself. I just couldn’t believe it,” she said during her CBS Mornings interview.
Despite the shock, Knowles acted quickly. She underwent a lumpectomy and breast reduction in August to remove the cancerous tumor.
Beyoncé and Solange Became Her “Team”
Knowles credits her daughters Beyoncé and Solange for giving her strength during the most difficult moments. She says both daughters rallied around her when she broke the news.
“My girls became my team,” she said in an excerpt from her upcoming memoir, Matriarch, shared with People.
Beyoncé immediately took on a leadership role, staying calm and focused. “She took it well and stayed positive, and I could feel her mind racing and taking this as a task that needed precision,” Knowles said.
Solange also stepped in with reassurance, telling her mom, “We’re going to get it done.”
Family friend and former Destiny’s Child member Kelly Rowland, along with Knowles’ niece Angie Beines, were also by her side.
Overcoming Fear of Surgery
Knowles admitted to feeling nervous about the surgery, but said having her daughters and friends visit her in the hospital gave her the emotional boost she needed.
“Knowing they were there helped so much,” she said. “It gave me peace.”
Now Cancer-Free and Raising Awareness
Today, Knowles is cancer-free and feeling grateful. Although she calls herself a “very private” person, she decided to open up about her health in hopes of encouraging other women to stay on top of routine screenings.
“I dread to think what would have happened if I hadn’t gotten it done sooner,” she said. “I’m fine. I’m so lucky to be cancer-free, and God let me find it early.”
Her new memoir Matriarch, where she shares more about her journey, aims to inspire other women to prioritize their health.
“I want to show people that you can get through this and still be alive,” she said.
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