Mathew Knowles has opened up about having breast cancer in the hope it will encourage other men to get tested.
The music mogul, and father of Beyoncé and Solange Knowles, shared details of his diagnosis on Wednesday’s episode of Good Morning America.
The 67-year-old said he went to get checked out after noticing bloodstains on his shirts and bedsheets. The diagnosis of breast cancer threw him completely off guard.
Knowles had surgery in July this year and says he is doing “really good”. He has now stopped drinking alcohol, started exercising and meditates regularly. His family have also been tested, he said.
The interview aired during Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October). Breast cancer in men is less common than in women – around 390 men are diagnosed each year in the UK, compared to about 55,000 women.
This means many men may be mistakingly ignoring symptoms due to a lack of awareness. Around 75 men die of the disease in the UK each year.
As with all types of cancer, early diagnosis is often key to making a full recovery.
What are the symptoms of breast cancer in men?
“The most common symptom for breast cancer in men is a lump,” a Breast Cancer Care clinical nurse specialist previously told HuffPost UK.
“It’s usually near the centre, close to the nipple, because most of the breast tissue in men is beneath the nipple. But lumps can also occur away from the nipple.”
Cancerous breast lumps usually occur in one breast, are painless (although in rare cases they can hurt), feel hard or rubbery, and get bigger over time.
Other symptoms might include the nipple becoming inverted (turning inwards), nipple discharge which may be streaked with blood, and a sore or rash around the nipple that doesn’t go away.
The nipple or surrounding skin may also become red, hard or swollen and small bumps might appear in the armpit area, which is a sign of swollen glands.
Who is at risk?
Anyone can be affected by male breast cancer, but there are some things that can increase your risk of developing the disease.
Breast cancer risk increases as people age, so men over 60 years old are more likely to be diagnosed with the disease. A family history of breast cancer also increases an individual’s risk.
Anyone who has undergone radiotherapy treatment to the chest may have an increased risk, as well as anyone who has had prostate cancer in the past.
When should you get help?
You should visit your GP if you notice any changes to the chest area, such as a lump in your breast or problems affecting your nipples.
Your GP will be able to run tests to see if these are symptoms of breast cancer. Read more about treatment and prevention here.