Retired wrestler Tyler Mane, known for his role in the X-Men franchise, revealed Tuesday that he had been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Mane posted a video on Instagram explaining that he was one of the “super rare” cases of breast cancer in men. In the caption, he wrote that his first reaction to the news was embarrassing.
“One in 750 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, and I’m one of them,” Mane said in the video. “Because it’s rarely talked about, it’s usually discovered at later stages and its consequences are worse. I want to change that.”
He continued in the caption, explaining that he plans to keep his diagnosis a secret, but that it is not a cancer typically found in men. Mane even said his own doctors ruled out the possibility until his wife pushed Mane to have a lump removed.
About 1 in 100 breast cancer diagnoses affect men. according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The two forms of the disease most commonly seen 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 tissues. Invasive ductal carcinoma begins in the ducts and grows outward into the surrounding breast tissue, the CDC said.
Risk factors for men listed by the CDC include a family history of breast cancer, genetic mutations, previous radiation therapy to the chest, and hormone therapy, which can be used to treat prostate cancer.
THE The American Breast Cancer Foundation urged men be aware of any changes in the chest area, including nipple pain, lumps, and swelling in the chest or armpits.
“Breast cancer in men may be less common, but it is just as important to raise awareness and provide resources to 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 lifesaving difference. »