Tina Knowles, influential matriarch and mother of pop superstar Beyoncé, is using her recent health experiences to encourage women to prioritize their mammogram appointments. In an interview with People magazine, Knowles revealed that she was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer in her left breast in July of the previous year.

The Diagnosis and Its Timing

Knowles learned about her diagnosis shortly after her and Beyoncé’s launch of the Cécred hair-care line. At the same time, she was finalizing her memoir, “Matriarch.” Reflecting on her decision to include her cancer journey in the book, she said, “I struggled with whether I would share that journey because I’m very private. But I decided to share it because I think it’s a lot of lessons in it for other women.”

Importance of Early Detection

Stressing the critical nature of routine testing, Knowles shared, “As women, sometimes we get so busy and we get so wrapped up and running around, but you must go get your test. Because if I had not gotten my test early, I mean, I shudder to think what could have happened to me.” She revealed that she had, unfortunately, overlooked a mammogram appointment prior to her diagnosis.

“I forgot that I didn’t go to get my test two years before I thought I had because Covid came and they called me and canceled me,” she explained. “I just thought I had done it. So you cannot play around with that.”

Family Support During a Challenging Time

In her memoir, Knowles details how her daughters, Beyoncé and Solange, responded to her diagnosis. Beyoncé was described as taking the news in stride, remaining positive as “her mind [raced], focusing on this as a task to tackle with precision.” Solange, on the other hand, reassured her mother, stating, “we are going to take care of this.” Knowles also acknowledged the support of her niece Angie and friend Kelly Rowland in her fight against cancer, stating, “My girls became my team.”

A Road to Recovery

Thanks to timely detection, Knowles confirmed that she is now cancer-free and feels “incredibly blessed” for the early discovery of her illness. She mentioned that her circumstance could have been much worse had she not been screened early. Now, she is committed to maintaining a healthier lifestyle and has lost some weight.

For those interested in learning more about her journey and insights, Knowles’s memoir, “Matriarch,” is currently available for purchase.