X-Men Star Opens Up About the Cancer He Almost Kept Secret

Few actors have built a career on sheer intimidation quite like Tyler Mane. Now the X-Men star is showing a very different kind of toughness, revealing he has been diagnosed with male breast cancer and has already begun chemotherapy.

The 59-year-old, who played Sabretooth opposite Hugh Jackman in the original 2000 film, shared the news in a video posted to social media this week. "I have some bad news. I start chemo today," he told followers, pointing out that roughly one in 750 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Because the disease is so rarely discussed in men, he explained, it is often caught late — something he is determined to help change.

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Why He Nearly Stayed Silent

Mane admitted his first instinct was to tell no one, confessing in his post that the diagnosis felt "kind of embarrassing". What changed his mind was learning that men are more likely to be diagnosed at advanced stages precisely because the condition — which accounts for only around one per cent of all breast cancer cases — is so seldom talked about or screened for.

His own experience proves the point. The actor revealed that doctors initially dismissed his concerns, and it was only because his wife insisted he have the lump removed that the cancer was caught early. He stressed to fans that the disease is very treatable when detected in time, urging men to push for answers rather than stay quiet.

An Emotional Update From the Chemo Ward

After his announcement prompted a flood of supportive messages, Mane posted a second video following his next round of treatment, visibly moved as he thanked fans. "It's made me very emotional and brought me to tears," he said, joking that his oestrogen blockers clearly were not doing their job. He vowed to beat the disease and promised to document his treatment publicly to keep awareness growing.

From the Wrestling Ring to Movie Villain

The towering Canadian began his career in professional wrestling, competing in WCW under the name Big Sky as well as in Japan and Mexico, before Hollywood came calling. Beyond Sabretooth — a role he reprised in 2024's Deadpool & Wolverine — he played Ajax in Troy and brought Michael Myers to life in Rob Zombie's Halloween and its sequel.

Now he faces a fight of a different kind, and judging by the response so far, he will have an army of fans in his corner.