Tina Knowles, renowned entrepreneur, fashion designer, and philanthropist, has publicly shared her health journey following a stage 1A breast cancer diagnosis in 2024. Even Tina Knowles, Beyoncé and Solange Knowles’ mother, said she delayed her own mammogram for four years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This decision made a major impact on how quickly she was able to get her diagnosis.
After much delay, Knowles was able to get her first mammogram. Her mammogram findings turned out to be a benign tumor in her right breast and a malignant tumor in her left breast. Soon after, she received surgery to take out the tumors which became a turning point in her fight against breast cancer.
The Impact of Delayed Screenings
At age 71, Knowles adds a profound depth of experience to the discussion. She strongly advocates the important need for mammograms, particularly annual exams for women aged 40 and older. According to American Cancer Society guidelines, women 40 to 44 should have the choice to receive mammograms yearly. For women between the ages of 45 and 54, they recommend annual screenings.
Richard Reitherman, a medical expert, stated, “Annual screening mammography, regardless of the woman’s age, has been proven beyond any doubt to reduce the risk of dying from breast cancer.” This pessimism is in keeping with Knowles’ caution that darkness often follows when we ignore the inconveniences of regular screenings.
“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,” – Tina Knowles
With breast cancer, the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women, developing at any age, the importance of timely screenings is all the more urgent. Tatiana Kelil, an American Radiological Society spokesperson, explains why younger women should start receiving regular screenings for breast cancer. Breast cancer can hit at any age, and early detection is often the best way to save lives.
Facing Challenges in Healthcare
After her diagnosis, Knowles found herself enraged at the way that she was treated by various healthcare providers. She experienced condescension from both a hospital surgeon and her oncologist, who she felt, “talked down to me about this thing on my body.” This experience opened my eyes to the need for patients to fight for their place in the healthcare system.
Finally, Knowles reiterated the need to get a second opinion when the stakes are high on a medical issue. She remarked, “A lot of people, especially Black people, feel they have to go with the doctor they are given even if we are not treated well. You deserve second opinions and it’s your opinion that sets the decision.“
Mediget Teshome, a healthcare advocate, echoed this sentiment by stating, “It is important for all women to have access to breast cancer screening and treatment.” Disparities in access only exacerbate the challenge that results in later stage diagnoses and death for too many women—especially those in marginalized communities.
Knowles’ Advocacy Through Literature
Jay’s new memoir takes a deep look at her health journey. Now, she’s sharing her journey—and the hard-won lessons that got her there—with you. Her goal in writing this book, she says, is to educate Americans—especially women—about the importance of consistent health screenings and patient freedom in medical decision-making.
Knowles without thinking about what might have happened if she hadn’t received her early test, “I shudder to think what could have happened to me if I hadn’t gotten my test early.” Her story is an inspiring example about the life-saving power of early detection.
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