Mathew Knowles, father of singers Beyoncé and Solange, has been diagnosed with breast cancer, he shared an interview today on ABC’s Good Morning America.

The 67-year-old celebrity dad and longtime manager opened up about his battle with the disease in an interview with GMA host Michael Strahan. Knowles discussed the signs that led him to seek treatment, his early diagnosis and his treatment plans for beating the disease. He also spoke of the need for greater awareness of breast cancer among men and the stigma that many guys face when diagnosed.

“I know how I felt, walking into a room that said ‘female breast center’” said Knowles. “It’s those things that have to change.” He added, “I want to continue the dialogue on awareness and early detection––male or female. The key to this is early detection.”

After hearing the news, fans expressed their support for Knowles on social media, telling him to be strong and fight through his illness. Moving forward, Knowles says he plans to have one more surgery (he has already had one breast and two moles removed) to reduce his risk of recurrence. See the GMA video:

Male patients currently make up less than 1% of breast cancer cases in the United States. The survival rates for each stage of cancer are similar for men and women, but men are usually diagnosed later than women, and they may not receive optimal treatment. Black men have the highest rate of new cases overall.

Signs of breast cancer in men are similar to those in women and include a lump or swelling in the chest, skin dimpling or puckering, redness or scaling of the nipple or breast skin, and/or discharge. Treatments for male breast cancer are also similar and include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

To read the full Good Morning American story, click here. 

To read more about male breast cancer, click here.