The likelihood of being diagnosed with this specific type of cancer in a lifetime is quite low, with only one out of 755 men in the United States facing this diagnosis. However, Tyler Mane, renowned for his role in X-Men, has now joined this small percentage.
Sharing the news on Instagram on June 8, the 59-year-old actor from Saskatoon revealed, “Yep. I have breast cancer,” emphasizing the rarity of this occurrence with only 1% of breast cancer cases affecting men.
Mane, recognized for portraying Sabretooth in the original 2000 X-Men and Michael Myers in Rob Zombie’s Halloween, admitted that when he initially noticed a hard lump on his chest last autumn, he ignored it, believing it would disappear on its own.
“I thought it would go away … I was like, ‘it’s going down,'” he shared with CBC News. Unfortunately, the lump persisted, leading Mane to seek medical advice at his wife’s insistence. In early April, he received the diagnosis of a rapidly progressing form of breast cancer.
‘Everybody has breast tissue’
Initially hesitant to disclose his diagnosis, Mane expressed his concerns on Instagram. He stated, “I mean it’s kind of embarrassing,” but later learned that men often receive late-stage diagnoses due to the lack of awareness and screenings for male breast cancer.
According to the Canadian Cancer Society, male breast cancer is extremely uncommon, constituting less than 1% of all breast cancer cases in Canada. The organization notes that the disease’s behavior in men closely mirrors that in women, with most diagnoses categorized as “ductal carcinoma, originating in the duct cells.”
Dr. Mojola Omole, a breast surgical oncologist at Scarborough Health Network, emphasized the importance of broadening conversations about breast cancer beyond the misconception that it solely affects women.
“Everybody has breast tissue,” Omole stated. “We all are at risk of getting breast cancer.”
Mane highlighted the tendency of men, including himself, to overlook warning signs due to ego and reluctance to seek medical attention promptly.
“We all want to be the tough guy,” he remarked. “‘Oh, I’m not hurt, suck it up, nothing is the matter with me’ … but you have to realize you have to get yourself checked because going undiagnosed with something like this — it will tear you down.”
What are the warning signs for breast cancer?
Omole recommended regular self-checks for warning signs, such as examining breast tissue to detect any abnormalities.
“If you’re in the shower, once a month, just feel around to make sure that everything feels normal … and if you notice anything that feels abnormal — it could just be excess fat, doesn’t matter — go to your doctor.”
Commencing chemotherapy recently, Mane posted a video from his hospital bed expressing defiance towards cancer and advocating for increased awareness to combat late-stage diagnoses.
“Because it’s rarely talked about, it’s usually found at later stages and has worse outcomes,” Mane emphasized in his June 8 video.
Oftentimes, delayed diagnoses occur as men skip breast cancer screenings, Omole highlighted, resulting in significant growth of any detected lumps before seeking medical attention.
Mane aims to promote change by encouraging his followers to engage with his journey, aiming to eliminate stigmas and inspire men