In a bold move that challenges societal norms, Mathew Knowles, father of pop sensation Beyoncé and a male breast cancer survivor, has partnered with pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca to spearhead the BeBRCAware campaign.
The initiative, aimed at shedding light on the critical importance of genetic testing and family health history in relation to BRCA mutations, comes at a time when male breast cancer awareness is gaining traction in celebrity circles.
BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, present in every individual, serve as the body’s natural defense against DNA damage, but mutations in these genes can dramatically increase cancer risks, a fact that Knowles, carrying the BRCA2 mutation himself, is determined to bring to public attention.
Knowles’ journey began nearly five years ago when, in a moment of keen self-awareness that would make headlines, he requested a mammogram after noticing blood on his shirt — a move that caught even his physician off guard.
The diagnosis that followed — male breast cancer — thrust Knowles into a world of mastectomies and genetic testing, revealing a BRCA2 mutation that significantly his elevated risk for future cancers, including prostate cancer.
The importance of family health history came into sharp focus for Knowles when a University of Washington study traced a generational pattern of cancer in his family, underscoring the value of genetic information in preventive healthcare.
“The University of Washington did a whole year of study going to my family on both sides of my family as far back as my great-grandmother, believe it or not,” he said in an exclusive interview with Blavity. “To understand the death they read obituaries and whatever information they could get. so I got a full look at my family’s history. My father, my grandfather [and] my father’s side had died of prostate. Four of his five brothers died of prostate. My mother [and] my mother’s sister died of breast cancer, and two of her three daughters died of breast cancer. And we went as far as my grandmother’s sister died of breast cancer.”
Knowles’ sentiments were expressed by other high-profile male breast cancer survivors like the late actor Richard Roundtree, known for his iconic role in “Shaft,” who has been a vocal advocate for male breast cancer awareness since his diagnosis in 1993.
Knowles‘ partnership with AstraZeneca aims to amplify the conversation around cancers affecting both men and women, a mission shared by actor Ken Olin, who has used his social media presence to raise awareness about male breast cancer since losing his father to cancer.
As Knowles continues to champion male breast cancer awareness, his efforts — alongside those of other celebrity advocates — mark a significant step towards dismantling stigmas and encouraging proactive health management among men.
