“It’s an Extremely Rare Disease”: X-Men Star Tyler Mane Reveals He Is Battling a Condition That Affects Only About 1% of Men
Actor Tyler Mane, best known to audiences around the world for portraying Sabretooth in the X-Men franchise and more recently appearing in Deadpool & Wolverine, has shared a deeply personal update about his health that has surprised many fans.
At 59, the former professional wrestler revealed that he is battling breast cancer — a disease that is extremely uncommon in men and one that often receives little public attention.
In a post shared on Instagram, Mane candidly announced his diagnosis.
“Yep. I have breast cancer. And yep, it’s super rare. Only one per cent of breast cancers are men.”
The actor admitted that his first instinct after receiving the news was to keep it private because he felt uncomfortable discussing a disease commonly associated with women.
“I’ll be honest, my first reaction was to keep it secret. I mean it’s kind of embarrassing.”
However, after learning more about the condition, he discovered that many men are diagnosed at more advanced stages simply because breast cancer in men is rarely discussed or actively screened for.
“But then I found out that men are more likely to be diagnosed in advance stages BECAUSE it’s not talked about and not looked for.”
Mane also revealed an important detail about how his illness was discovered. According to the actor, doctors initially dismissed the lump he had found and did not consider it a major concern. It was ultimately his wife’s persistence that led him to seek treatment early.
“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.”
According to Breast Cancer Network Australia, breast cancer in men accounts for less than one percent of all cancers diagnosed in men. In Australia, approximately one in every 600 men will develop the disease during their lifetime.
Recognizing how little awareness exists around the condition, Mane said he intends to document his treatment journey on social media in hopes of educating others.
He stressed that breast cancer in men is often detected later than it is in women, resulting in poorer outcomes and more challenging treatment.
Despite the difficult diagnosis, the X-Men star has remained determined and optimistic. In footage from his first chemotherapy session, Mane raised his middle finger and delivered a short but defiant message:
“f— cancer”.
Later, the actor shared some encouraging news with fans, revealing that the cancer had not spread to his lymph nodes.
Under his current treatment plan, Mane will undergo four rounds of chemotherapy over a 12-week period.
The actor also said he had been overwhelmed by the support he received from fans around the world.
“This made me very emotional and brought me to tears, thank you so much,” he said.
Even while facing one of the toughest battles of his life, Mane made it clear that he has no intention of giving up.
“I’ve got this, I’m gonna kick cancer’s arse.”
By publicly sharing his diagnosis, Tyler Mane has not only shocked fans but also helped shine a spotlight on a rare disease that can affect men as well. For the actor, speaking out has become more than a personal decision — it is an opportunity to encourage greater awareness and remind others of the importance of early detection.
