Actor Tyler Mane announced he is undergoing chemotherapy for a rare male breast cancer diagnosis. He aims to raise awareness for the condition, noting that men are often diagnosed at later stages due to lack of discussion and medical dismissal.
Tyler Mane's public announcement aims to destigmatize male breast cancer and encourage early detection, highlighting that men's symptoms are often dismissed, leading to later-stage diagnoses and poorer outcomes.
Actor and former professional wrestler Tyler Mane has revealed he is undergoing chemotherapy for a rare diagnosis of male breast cancer. Mane, 59, shared the news on Facebook to raise awareness, noting that the condition is rarely discussed and often leads to late-stage diagnoses.
Mane expressed that his initial reaction was to keep the diagnosis secret due to embarrassment. However, he learned that men are more likely to be diagnosed at advanced stages because the condition is not actively looked for. He shared that his doctors had dismissed his symptoms, and it was only after his wife insisted he get a lump removed that he received an early diagnosis.
He urged for open conversation about male breast cancer, stating that 1 in 755 men are diagnosed in their lifetime and that early detection makes it highly treatable. The American Cancer Society estimates that 2,670 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer this year, with 530 expected to die from the disease. The average age for diagnosis is between 60 and 70 years old.
The CDC outlines several symptoms of male breast cancer, including lumps or swelling, redness or flaky skin, nipple discharge, and pain. The disease can manifest as invasive ductal carcinoma or ductal carcinoma in situ. Treatment options, similar to those for women, may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy.