‘Don’t Slack On Your Mammograms’: Tina Knowles Gets Candid About Her Breast Cancer Journey

Premiere Of Netflix's "The Six Triple Eight" — Source: Maya Dehlin Spach / Getty

Matriarch and powerhouse Tina Knowles is stepping into a new light. And it’s deeply personal.

The usually more private mother of Beyoncé and Solange revealed she recently battled breast cancer. Tina shared that the diagnosis might have been caught sooner had she not missed a crucial mammogram.

Tina Knowles Reveals She Survived Breast Cancer In New Memoir

Her revelation comes as part of the rollout for her new memoir, Matriarch. The piece is Tina’s personal love letter. It is filled with stories from her life—including her health scare that she says nearly went unspoken.

“I struggled with whether I would share that journey [in the book] because I’m very private,” she told People. “But I decided to share it because I think it’s a lot of lessons in it for other women.”

Tina’s journey began last July when she received the unexpected news during a long-delayed appointment. Due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, she mistakenly believed she had already completed her screening.

Doctors discovered two tumors—one benign and the other cancerous—in her left breast. Reflecting on the disovery, Tina emphasized in the book, “If I had not gotten my test early, I mean, I shudder to think what could have happened to me.”

Throughout this intensely personal experience, Mama Tina leaned heavily on her daughters. In fact, she described Beyoncé as immediately “focusing on this as a task to tackle with precision” and recalling Solange’s assuring words: “Mom, we are going to take care of this.” With bonus daughter Kelly Rowland and niece Angie Beyince by her side, Tina felt the strength of a team behind her.

Tina Knowles’ Breast Cancer Message To Others: Don’t Slack On Mammograms

Tina underwent surgery to remove the tumor, along with a breast reduction. The business woman later navigated complications, including an infection that nearly caused her to miss Glamour’s 2024 Women of the Year event. Yet, even in recovery, her iconic poise and style never wavered.

“I want to show people you can go through that and still be fly,” she told People.

Matriarch promises more heartfelt revelations, shedding rare light into the private lives of the Knowles family. As Tina embarks on her book tour, fans can anticipate more candid moments and powerful stories about strength, resilience, and familial bonds.

(Bey Hive—this may be your moment to learn even more about Beyoncé, her mother, and the entire Texas dynasty.)

Above all, Tina is using her platform to spread an urgent message to women everywhere: prioritize your health, don’t miss your screenings, and embrace each day fully.

“What scares me now,” she shares, “is not making the best of every day that I have left in this life.”

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