‘X-Men’ Actor Tyler Mane Diagnosed With Breast Cancer
Key Takeaways:
- Tyler Mane announced he has breast cancer and recently began chemotherapy treatment
- Male breast cancer accounts for about 1% of all breast cancer cases
- Mane underwent surgery and is sharing his experience to raise awareness and reduce stigma around the disease
Tyler Mane, former pro wrestler who appeared in “X-Men,” announced he has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
“I have some bad news. I start chemo today,” Mane shared in a video posted to Instagram. “One in 750 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, and I’m one of them.”
John Kiluk, MD
The American Cancer Society estimates about 2,670 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer this year.
“Male breast cancer comprises 1% of all breast cancers,” said John Kiluk, MD, a surgeon in the Breast Oncology Department at Moffitt Cancer Center.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Since men do not get routine mammograms, most male breast cancers are diagnosed after a palpable breast mass is discovered.
Men have very little breast tissue, so it’s often easier to see or feel small lumps that may be tumors. However, many men don’t know they can get breast cancer and may ignore symptoms and not seek medical treatment until the disease is more advanced.
Symptoms of male breast cancer can include:
- A hard lump in the breast
- Nipple pain
- Inverted nipple
- Discharge from the nipple
- Dimpling, redness, scaliness, swelling or other changes to breast skin
- Sores on or around the nipple
- Changes to the size or shape of the breast
Breast cancer in men is treated basically the same way as breast cancer in women. That treatment could include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or a combination of those therapies.
Reducing the Stigma in Men
Mane also addressed the stigma around male breast cancer on social media.
“I’ll be honest, my first reaction was to keep it a secret. I mean it’s kind of embarrassing,” he said.
However, Mane says learning more about the disease inspired him to speak out.
“Male breast cancer patients can experience an emotional roller coaster,” Kiluk said.
Mane had surgery and is now undergoing chemotherapy. He posted a video for his fans after his second day of chemotherapy, saying “Thank you for coming along on this journey. We need to spread the awareness. Cancer sucks, but if you catch it quickly enough, you can win this battle.”
