Tina Knowles is opening up about a scary situation.
The mother of Beyoncé and Solange Knowles revealed she was diagnosed with breast cancer during a “CBS Mornings” sit-down on Tuesday.
“I was diagnosed with breast cancer in my left breast,” Knowles, 71, told host Gayle King while on air. “I’m getting emotional because it was like, you know, I’ve always tried to take care of myself and I just, was in disbelief.”
Tina Knowles on “CBS Mornings.” cbsmornings/Instagram Tina Knowles reveals her breast cancer diagnosis. cbsmornings/InstagramThe matriarch missed her annual mammogram during the COVID pandemic and forgot to reschedule. Last year, when she went for the screening, doctors found two tumors — one which was benign and one with cancer.
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According to The American Cancer Society, women over 55 should get a mammogram every one to two years.
Beyoncé and Tina Knowles attend the Los Angeles Premiere of Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King.” FilmMagic“It was stage 1, which I thought was the earliest stage,” the fashion designer continued. “And then when I told my sister, she said, ‘No, actually, there’s a zero.’ So if I had gone for my mammogram, I would’ve got it at the zero stage. Thank God, it was still very small, hadn’t spread. It was a very slow-spreading cancer.”
Knowles underwent a lumpectomy to remove the cancerous tumor, and her family was by her side during surgery.
“All them showed up in the hospital,” she recounted. “I was nervous. And so they just started just joking with me.”
Tina Knowles attends the after party for the 27th Costume Designers Guild Awards. Getty Images for CDGA“They sung that song,” she shared, getting emotional, “and I went in there feeling, just like God’s got me.”
Her family also sang her the song “Walk With Me,” a tune that has a deep meaning for the bunch.
In her book “Matriarch,” she revealed how her loved ones reacted to the news.
Tina Knowles speaks onstage. Getty Images for Diane von Furstenberg, YouTube and JPMorganChaseBeyoncé, she writes, “took it well, staying positive, and I could already feel her mind racing, focusing on this as a task to tackle with precision.” Meanwhile, Solange said, “Mom, we are going to take care of this.”
Along with Beyoncé, 43, and Solange, 38, Kelly Rowland and Knowles’ her niece Angie Beyince were also there to support her during her cancer battle. Knowles penned: “My girls became my team.”
As for why the author wanted to open up about such a personal battle, the mom-of-two realized she could help others by sharing her story.
Tina Knowles. Julian Dakdouk for Cécred via PictureGroup/Shutterstock“I struggled with whether I would share that journey [in the book] 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,” Knowles told People. “And I think 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.”
Following her surgery and breast reduction, the entrepreneur told the outlet, “I’m doing great. Cancer-free and incredibly blessed that God allowed me to find it early.”
Knowles added, “I’m healthier, eating better, I lost weight.”
Beyoncé and Tina pose together. WireImageGoing through the ordeal has also left the businesswoman with a new outlet.
“I want to give people hope,” Knowles confessed. “What scares me now is not making the best of every day that I have left in this life.”
