Actor and former professional wrestler Tyler Mane has disclosed that he has been diagnosed with breast cancer and has commenced chemotherapy. The 59-year-old, widely recognized for his portrayal of Sabretooth in the X-Men films, shared the news via a Facebook video on June 8. In the video, he stated, “I have some bad news. I start chemo today. One in 750 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, and I’m one of them.”
Mane highlighted the lack of awareness surrounding male breast cancer, noting that it is often detected at later stages because many individuals overlook warning signs. He explained, “Because it’s rarely talked about, it’s usually found at later stages and has worse outcomes. I want to change that.” The actor plans to document his treatment journey to educate others and encourage men to seek medical help if they notice potential symptoms. He urged followers to “come along for my journey to kick this thing in the ass,” adding, “People need to hear this. F— cancer!”
In a separate statement, Mane admitted his initial instinct was to keep the diagnosis private. “Yep. I have breast cancer. And yep, it’s super rare. Only 1% of breast cancers are men,” he wrote. “I’ll be honest, my first reaction was to keep it secret. I mean it’s kind of embarrassing.” He credited his wife, Renae Geerlings, for encouraging him to pursue further treatment after his concerns were initially dismissed. “In fact, my doctors all dismissed it and it was only because my wife pushed me to get the lump removed that I got in early,” he said. “So let’s start talking about it!”
According to the American Cancer Society, less than 1% of breast cancer cases in the United States occur in men. Symptoms can include a lump in the breast area, changes to the skin or nipple, and nipple discharge. Born in Saskatchewan, Mane first gained fame as wrestler Big Sky in World Championship Wrestling before transitioning to acting. He later became known for roles in films including The Scorpion King, Joe Dirt, Halloween, and The Devil's Rejects. Most recently, he reprised his role as Sabretooth in Deadpool & Wolverine.
