Retired wrestler Tyler Mane, known for his role in the “X-Men” franchise, revealed Tuesday that he had been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Mane said in a video on Instagram that his was one of the “super rare” cases of breast cancer in men. In the caption, he wrote that his initial reaction was embarrassment.
“One in 750 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, and I’m one of them,” he said in the video. “Because it’s rarely talked about, it’s usually found at later stages and has worse outcomes. I want to change that.”
He said he considered keeping his diagnosis secret but that it is not a cancer that is typically looked for in men. Mane said even his own doctors dismissed the possibility until his wife pushed him to have a lump removed.
About 1 in 100 breast cancer diagnoses are in men, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The two forms of the disease most commonly found in men are invasive ductal carcinoma and ductal carcinoma in situ.
Ductal carcinoma in situ occurs when cancer cells line the ducts in the chest but have not spread to other tissue. Invasive ductal carcinoma begins in the ducts and grows outward into surrounding breast tissue, the CDC said.
Risk factors for men listed by the CDC include family histories of breast cancer, genetic mutations, previous radiation therapy to the chest and hormone therapy, which can be used to treat prostate cancer.
The American Breast Cancer Foundation urged men to be aware of any changes in their chest area, including nipple pain, lumps and swelling in the breast or underarm.
“Breast cancer in men may be less common, but it’s just as important to raise awareness and provide resources for those affected,” the foundation said. “Early detection can improve outcomes, and recognizing the signs — such as lumps, nipple changes, or skin irritation — can make a life-saving difference.”
