Tina Knowles, the 71-year-old mother of Beyoncé and Solange, revealed during an interview with CBS Mornings that she was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer after delaying a mammogram during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her doctors found two tumors during the long-overdue screening—one benign, one malignant.
“I’ve always tried to take care of myself,” Knowles told CBS co-host Gayle King. “I just … was in disbelief.”
Knowles later learned that had she maintained her regular screenings, the cancer might have been detected at Stage 0, before it spread. She underwent a lumpectomy in August 2024 and is now cancer-free. Still, the delay was a sobering reminder of how quickly things can change—and why consistency is key, even decades after reaching screening age.
Her story offers a deeply personal example of something researchers have been warning about for years: the consequences of delayed or inadequate breast cancer screening—particularly for Black women.
In 2023, a study published in JAMA Network Open made headlines for recommending that Black women begin breast cancer screenings at age 42 instead of 50. The study highlighted deeply concerning mortality rates: Black women in their 40s were significantly more likely to die from breast cancer than women of any other racial or ethnic group.
The Study That Sounded the Alarm
The JAMA Network Open study drew widespread attention for its findings on early mortality among Black women in their 40s. It found that 27 out of every 100,000 Black women aged 40–49 die from breast cancer. That’s a rate significantly higher than for other groups. The study also found that when using the standard age 50 screening threshold, Black women reach that risk level eight years earlier than white women.
“The take-home message for U.S. clinicians and health policy makers is simple,” said study author Mahdi Fallah in an interview with CNN. “Clinicians and radiologists should consider race and ethnicity when determining the age at which breast cancer screening should begin.”
The study sparked calls to reevaluate screening guidelines to better reflect the lived risk of Black women—something many have long advocated for.
A Timely Reminder That Screening Shouldn’t Stop
While the JAMA study centers on younger Black women, Knowles’ diagnosis shows that screening is not just about when you start—it’s about staying consistent.
Knowles missed her regular mammogram during the pandemic and didn’t reschedule until 2024. When she did, doctors discovered the tumors. Though the cancer had not yet spread, it was a wake-up call for someone who had always considered herself proactive about her health.
“It is very important to have your mammograms,” she told CBS Mornings. “I’m a living example.”
In the months following her surgery, Knowles battled a serious post-surgical infection and nearly missed Glamour’s 2024 Women of the Year event. Her daughters, including Beyoncé, encouraged her to rest, telling her: “Your health is more important.”
But Knowles insisted on attending. She had spent most of her life working behind the scenes—building, protecting, and uplifting her family. Now, she said, it was time to say out loud: “I deserve this.”
Why Is this Happening?
Studies have shown cancers growing in young women are more aggressive. Black women’s breast tissue is also denser than women of other races. That makes it harder for mammograms to detect cancer cells. However, there are other race disparities that contribute to Black women getting cancer.
Researchers at the Breast Cancer Research Foundation found that Black women are prone to obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Institutional racists acts, such as redlining, lead to the lack of access to resources, like proper nutrition and affordable housing.
Black women also have to navigate medical racism, which effects their decision to return for follow-up appointments and complete of therapy. The American Association For Cancer Research reported that Black women deal with “implicit bias.” This means that medical professionals often disregard or undervalue Black women’s health concerns.
Possible Solutions
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation recently released an article on how to eliminate the breast cancer disparities and gave suggestions for how to close the gap. The team discovered that Black women have a higher incidence of mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. They acknowledged that improving poor diets, increasing access to quality diagnostic tools and studying low-income communities will help those in underserved communities.
Tina Knowles’ story brings the findings of the 2023 study full circle. The study emphasizes the importance of starting breast cancer screenings early for Black women. Tina’s experience reminds people that screenings must also continue regularly throughout women’s lives.
Together, the data and the diagnosis speak a powerful truth: early and ongoing detection saves lives.