WATCH Beyonce’s Dad Mathew Knowles Talk About Genetic Testing And Men Getting Breast Cancer
GettyImages Reading Time: 3 minutes
Mathew Knowles, father to famous sisters Beyonce and Solange opened up about discovering he had breast cancer and catching it before it became fatal. He wants people to be aware and proactive and encourages genetic testing to catch any early signs of cancer.
Mathew Knowles Opened Up About His Breast Cancer Diagnoses
Mathew first shared his cancer diagnoses with the world back in October 2019 during an appearance on Good Morning America. He emphasized that you can survive breast cancer and have such a chance with early detection. That’s why now, he is working with a genetic testing company called Invitae to help encourage people to get tested for cancer-causing genetic mutations that may have been passed down. He even has gotten both Beyonce and Solange to get tested as well. His main initiative is to “save lives, especially in the Black community.”
SEE ALSO: JAY-Z AND BEYONCE’S DAUGHTER BLUE IVY FOUND THE CURE FOR CORONAVIRUS [VIDEO]
For Mathew, he first had concerns when he saw that he was bleeding from his nipples. He grew weary and immediately went to see a doctor. Selling medical technology his whole life, he already knew a lot about cancer and his family’s history with it. According to People Magazine, “Knowles knew that his mom and aunt had died of breast cancer, but he also learned that his great aunt died of it as well, and four of his father’s six brothers had died of prostate cancer.” He then got a mastectomy but held off from telling Beyonce and Solange about it until after the surgery was complete. “I didn’t want them worrying that this was a life-or-death kind of situation on surgery day,” he said of this decision.
Mathew Wants To Raise Awareness That Men Can Get Breast Cancer Too
Mathew also got further testing done that revealed he has a gene mutation that puts him at a greater risk of developing pancreatic, melanoma and prostate cancers. He has doctors visits regularly to monitor his health.
What many people don’t know is that men can get breast cancer too. Mathew has made it a point to speak out about this because he wants people, men included, to be aware and get checked regularly. The American Cancer Society has estimated that nearly 2,620 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in men in 2020 and that 520 men will die from it. Black men are diagnosed at a rate that is 52 percent higher rate than white men. The lifetime risk of getting breast cancer for men is about 1 in 833, so though the chances are very slim, it definitely is possible.
SEE ALSO: WATCH BEYONCE’S ENTIRE “WISHING ON A STAR” PERFORMANCE FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS TAKING CARE OF US ALL
Beyonce has actually performed to raise awareness for cancer research in the past and donated proceeds to Stand Up For Cancer.
The organization helps provide cancer treatments for patients and research programs and is all about bringing people together to push a revolution of medical breakthroughs.
