Matthew Knowles Promotes Early Cancer Screenings
- Matthew Knowles, father of Beyonce and Solange Knowles, returned to University of Tennessee at Chattanooga for an inspiring visit, sharing his breast cancer survival journey and encouraging early screenings, particularly in underserved communities.
- Knowles, the father of singers Beyonce and Solange Knowles, was diagnosed with stage 1A breast cancer diagnosis in 2019 and later beat it.
- Symptoms of male breast cancer can include a lump in the chest or a thickening in the breast tissue, nipple pain, an inverted nipple, discharge from the nipple, which may be clear or bloody, changes to the color or texture of the nipple, and enlarged lymph nodes under the arm.
- Experts say that treating male breast cancer is largely the same as female breast cancer. While men have some special considerations, treatment options depend greatly on various factors, including the size of the tumor, how far the cancer cells have spread, and biological and genetic factors that may be powering your cancer.
- The medical community has a consensus that women between 45 and 54 have annual mammograms. However, an independent panel of experts called the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) says that women should start getting mammograms every other year at the age of 40, suggesting that this lowered the age for breast cancer screening could save 19% more lives.
- For women aged 55 and older, the American Cancer Society recommends getting a mammogram every other year. However, women in this age group who want added reassurance can still get annual mammograms.
- Women who have a strong family history of breast cancer, have dense breasts, have a genetic mutation known to increase the risk of breast cancer, such as a BRCA gene mutation, or a medical history, including chest radiation therapy before age 30, are considered at higher risk for breast cancer.
The male breast cancer survivor, who started his college journey at UTC in the early 1970s, said during his visit, according to Local News 3, “I’m a cancer survivor six years and what we are seeing now in a medical field is cancer is getting younger and younger.
Read More“So that’s why it’s so important to get these exams early.”
He also told students during his visit, as per WTVC NewsChannel 9, “One in eight women in their lifetime will be diagnosed with breast cancer.
“One in eight men in our lifetime will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. Those are some alarming numbers.”
Knowles, who was diagnosed with the disease back in 2019 and beat it, also spoke on the value of genetic testing, noting that many people in underserved areas are diagnosed too late.
“By the time they find out that they have cancer, it’s at stage four. Early detection is the key,” he urged.
He also offered some inspirational words, proving that anything is possible, no matter where one grows up, saying, “I grew up on a dirt road with an outhouse.
“There’s a piece of you and a part of you that has greatness. That’s what I want to leave with.”
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In a group photo from his UTC visit, which was shared on his Instagram page, a recap of the event read, “Following Dr. Knowles’ dynamic keynote on Health & Wellness on Friday, February 27th at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, this powerful group gathered to commemorate a sold-out event with 200 attendees in the room.
“The audience represented a remarkable cross-section of leadership and influence — deans, faculty, staff, students, and department heads from UTC, alongside insurance, healthcare, and nonprofit executives. Elected officials were also in attendance, underscoring the importance of the conversation.”
The caption continued, “A distinguished highlight of the day: Two members of the Chattanooga City Council presented Dr. Knowles with an official proclamation from the council — a meaningful recognition of his impact and leadership.”
Mathew Knowles’ Breast Cancer Journey
After battling stage 1A breast cancer, Knowles – also a famed author, professor, and public speaker – has continued to urge others to know the signs and risks of male breast cancer in an effort to lead others to early detection.
Knowles, who previously spoke at the 2023 Breast Cancer Gala as the keynote speaker in Grand Cayman, told Cayman Compass, “I want to share my ideas on how I think we should approach male breast cancer in a different way.”
He explained, “A lot of men in the last three, four years have come and said, ‘Oh I have that too, but I was too embarrassed to talk about it,’ or ‘I wanted to go but I was just embarrassed,’ so if we can get across that line, I think we will even have more men that go for early detection and know the warning signs of breast cancer.
“And the same for women; it’s all about early detection.”
Knowles insists he’s been an advocate for early detection of breast cancer for about four decades, telling the news outlet, “I hear so many men embarrassed, feel as though there is a stigma attached to breast cancer versus male breast cancer or male chest cancer.”
Referring to how he often spreads positive messages on his social media accounts, he said, “I send positive messages almost every day. I’m just that person that I always reach for the sky and the stars and have faith. And you say thriver, I like that. But I say survivor [referring to himself] only because I co-wrote a song called “I’m a Survivor.”
“The words of that song are, “I’m a survivor, I’m not gonna give up. I’m gonna make it.”
Knowles, a well-informed role model in the health and cancer communities, previously spoke with SurvivorNet to encourage people to be proactive about their health, and to let men know they can get breast cancer, too.
The “male chest cancer survivor,” as he prefers to be called, carries the BRCA2 (BReast CAncer 2) gene mutation. This means that his children have a 50% chance of also carrying the gene that predisposes you to certain types of cancers. (In a prior interview, Knowles says that Beyonce and Solange have tested negative for the gene mutation.)
In Knowles’ interview with SurvivorNet, he said he takes charge of his health just like he would a business. Since his diagnosis, he says he stopped drinking and made some major lifestyle changes, including eating a clean diet.
Knowles said he first suspected something to be off with his body when he noticed little drops of blood on his white shirts and on his bedding in July of 2019.
Thanks to his prior experience selling breast cancer imaging equipment, he said, “I knew from years ago what that meant, and I immediately went to my physician who immediately referred me to get a mammogram that led to an ultrasound that led to a biopsy that led to surgery.
“Somewhere in all of this, there was a delay in getting back my pathology report. Had I got my pathology report back sooner, I would have had a double mastectomy, but I didn’t. In all my years working (in medical sales) I had never heard the words BRCA2 or that I was mutated genetically. I knew nothing about BRCA2 or genetic mutation.”
He added, “Had I not checked, what would that have looked like? It would have been progressive. It could have spread into my lymph nodes. I am now the face of this for men. I’ve been given this opportunity to save lives and I take it very seriously.”
Understanding Male Breast Cancer
Like women, men have breast tissue and can develop breast cancer. Breast cancer starts when cells in the breast start growing out of control, typically forming a tumor that’s felt as a lump.
RELATED: It’s All About Awareness and Education — Why I Advocate for Male Breast Cancer
Expert Resources On Early Detection & Cancer Screenings
- Men With BRCA Gene Have More Than DOUBLE The Risk Of Developing Prostate Cancer, New Research Suggests
- A New Recommendation Adds To The List Of Drugs That Can Lower Breast Cancer Risk For Women With High Risk Of Developing The Disease
- There’s Not Much Out There About Male Breast Cancer — Let’s Change That
- Breast Cancer Drugs Are Rarely Tested in Male Patients — Now The FDA Wants to Fix That
- 6 Common Excuses for Skipping a Mammogram That You Need to Stop Using!
- How to Avoid False Positive Cancer Results in Women With Dense Breasts: Ultrasounds Used in Addition To Mammograms
- The Mammogram Debate: Should Women Start Breast Cancer Screening at 30?
A family history of breast cancer can increase a man’s likelihood of developing the disease. In most cases, male breast cancer presents as a lump in the chest region. Additionally, factors such as the individual’s race may influence the overall outlook or prognosis.
Five types of standard treatment are used to treat breast cancer in men:
- Surgery for breast cancer in men mirrors the procedure in women. A modified radical mastectomy removes the whole breast with cancer. The result may involve removing the nipple, according to the National Cancer Institute.
- Chemotherapy involves cancer-killing drugs to prevent the cancer cells from growing. Chemo drugs are usually taken orally or intravenously.
- Hormone therapy removes hormones or blocks their ability to help cancer cells grow.
- In radiation therapy, high-energy beams such as X-rays are aimed at cancer cells to kill them.
- Targeted therapy treatment uses drugs designed to target specific cancer cells.
Meanwhile, there are several risk factors that can increase a man’s chance of developing the disease, just like in the case of female breast cancer. If you’re a man with any, all or some of the following risk factors, vigilance is key.
Possible Risk Factors for Male Breast Cancer:
- Age. Breast cancer risk increases with age, and most cancers are found in patients over 50. The average age of a man diagnosed with breast cancer is 72.
- Family history. Men with close blood relatives who have had breast cancer are at higher risk for the disease.
- Genetic mutations. Patients may inherit gene defects that make them more susceptible to breast cancer. Men with a mutation in the BRCA2 gene have a 6 percent lifetime risk of developing breast cancer, and men with a mutation in the BRCA1 gene have a 1 percent lifetime risk. These gene mutations are most commonly found in families with strong histories of breast or ovarian cancer, but they have also been found in male breast cancer patients without a family history.
- Klinefelter syndrome. Men with Klinefelter syndrome are born with at least one extra X chromosome which may increase a man’s breast cancer risk by producing high levels of estrogen (a hormone responsible for female sex characteristics) and low levels of androgens (hormones responsible for male sex characteristics). This condition affects about 1 in 1,000 men, and can raise the risk of breast cancer by 20 60 times that of the general population.
- Hormone therapy. Men who have been treated with drugs containing estrogen are at a greater breast cancer risk. These drugs were once used to treat prostate cancer, and they are still used in sex reassignment processes.
- Conditions affecting the testicles. Testicle injuries, swelling or removal surgery can increase a man’s risk for the disease by disrupting normal hormone levels.
- Liver disease. Diseases that impede the liver (like cirrhosis) may raise men’s estrogen production and lower their androgen levels, therefore, increasing breast cancer risk.
- Alcohol. Heavy drinking is known to raise the risk of breast cancer (which may be related to alcohol’s effect on the liver).
- Radiation therapy. Men who have received radiation therapy to their chests (for conditions like lymphoma) have a higher risk of developing breast cancer.
- Obesity. Fat cells can transform androgens into estrogens, boosting the possibility of an overweight man developing breast cancer.
If any of the above risk factors applies to you, consult your doctor and feel free to ask questions. While it’s true that men can work to lower their breast cancer risk by exercising and maintaining a healthy bodyweight, the most important element of effective cancer treatment is an early diagnosis.
Symptoms of Male Breast Cancer Can Include:
- A lump developed in the breast (usually painless), or a thickening in the breast tissue
- Nipple pain
- An inverted nipple
- Discharge from the nipple, which may be clear or bloody (this was Mathew Knowles’ first symptom)
- Changes to the color or texture of the nipple and areola
- Changes to the color or texture of skin on the chest
- Enlarged lymph nodes under the arm
If You Feel Something, Say Something Men Ignore Symptoms Too Often
Treatment for male breast cancer is largely the same as female breast cancer. A person’s options depend greatly on a variety of factors, including the size of the tumor and how far the cancer cells have spread, but possibilities include surgery, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, radiation therapy and targeted therapy.
There is Nothing to Be Ashamed of with Male Breast Cancer
Marc Futterweit is a two-time breast cancer survivor and he knows first-hand that the shame that comes with a diagnosis of male breast cancer can be quite debilitating. The urge to just ignore the symptoms and tell yourself breast cancer is a woman’s disease may sway you from getting screened. But Marc has become an advocate for the disease, and is now dedicated to halting that way of thinking.
“Men are basically standing in the shadows,” Futterweit says. “They’re ashamed or embarrassed … this is a woman’s disease. [But] why can’t men get breast cancer?”
A lot of people assume men can’t even get breast cancer because they don’t have breasts, but that’s not the case. The American Cancer Society estimates that about 2,800 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2025 and 510 men will die from it.
It’s much less common in men than it is in women (the lifetime risk of a man getting breast cancer is about 1 in 726), but surveillance and screening is still important.
That’s why Futterweit’s philosophy is “if you feel something, say something.”
He detected his own cancer when he felt an odd lump on his chest during a shower. He admits, he was baffled when his doctor suggested he get a mammogram, but in reality, it probably saved his life. “The problem with men is that they wait, and they think things are going to go away,” Futterweit says.
“Once they’re diagnosed, sometimes it’s too late.”
Questions for Your Doctor
If you are facing a breast cancer diagnosis, whether you’re a man or a woman, here are some questions you can ask your doctor to learn more about it.
- What kind of breast cancer do I have?
- Has the cancer spread to other parts of the body?
- What stage is my cancer in?
- What other tests should I seek to better understand the cancer before deciding on treatment?
- What are your treatment recommendations and their likely side effects?
- What other doctors can give me additional opinions?
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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