Understanding Radiation for Breast Cancer
- Retired wrestler and actor Tyler Mane has begun radiation for Stage 1 male breast cancer after completing chemotherapy, and getting a tumor removed, and admitted he hopes he doesn’t come out looking “like an overcooked steak.”
- Radiation helps kill cancer cells in a targeted way. With breast cancer, it is often used after surgery to kill off any cancer cells that may remain in the breast or surrounding area. Possible side effects may include swelling, fatigue, and scar tissue.
- Experts say that treating male breast cancer is largely the same as female breast cancer. While men have some special considerations, treatment options depend greatly on various factors, including the size of the tumor, how far the cancer cells have spread, and biological and genetic factors that may be powering your cancer.
- To better prepare for upcoming appointments and conversations with your care team, SurvivorNet recommends exploring its proprietary AI-tool “My Health Questions.” The powerful resource delivers structured responses grounded in clinical guidelines and medically reviewed research to help people better understand their treatment options and feel more confident navigating care.
Mane, 59, a father of two also known for his roles in “X-Men” and “The Scorpion King,” was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, a form of male breast cancer, after his wife of 18 years, singer Renae Geerlings, 52, urged him to get checked. He publicly revealed his diagnosis on June 8, having already completed chemotherapy to clear the cancer from his system, and has now begun targeted radiation.
Read MoreRadiation therapy is often used after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells in the breast or surrounding tissue. As radiation oncologist Dr. Subhakar Mutyala told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview, “Radiation therapy is actually ionizing energy, where energy goes through your body, essentially causes DNA damage… The actual treatment is just ionizing energy.”
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Mane explains in the video clip, “Here we go … 4 a.m. Again, I can’t sleep. My insomnia is driving me nuts. But I probably can’t sleep because today is day one of radiation. I’ve got four weeks of that coming up. Oh joy, can’t wait.
“And also today I got my medical oncologist to hopefully tell me what’s going on with the blood clot. Hopefully it’s completely gone. At least my hair is kind of coming back. It’s coming back either whiter, really light blonde.”
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Mane underwent surgery on April 1, 2026 to remove a 28-millimeter tumor, which he learned was cancerous shortly afterward. He admitted to initially thinking, “Oh this can’t be me… that they must have mixed up the tests, or something,” upon learning he had breast cancer, he told Fox News Digital in a recent interview.
“But it was, and it started a journey that is very rare for men.”
Mane, who has tested positive for a BRCA2 gene mutation linked to increased cancer risk, initially kept his diagnosis private, saying he felt embarrassed and struggled to understand how he could develop breast cancer as a man.
Male breast cancer is uncommon, according to the National Cancer Institute — but it can be just as serious. Experts urge men to pay attention to changes such as lumps, swelling, or discomfort, especially since men aren’t routinely screened the way women are.
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Back in June, Mane posted on Instagram, warning men about the disease.
He wrote alongside footage of himself, “Yep. I have breast cancer. And yep, it’s super rare. Only 1% of breast cancers are men.”
“I’ll be honest, my first reaction was to keep it secret,” he admitted.” I mean it’s kind of embarrassing. 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. 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 concluded, “So let’s start talking about it! 1 in 755 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime and if caught early, it’s VERY treatable. Time to answer the Wake Up Call! Like, Save, Share, Comment let’s spread the word!”
Radiation Therapy: A Powerful Tool with Long-Term Considerations
Radiation therapy — using high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells — is a common follow-up to breast cancer surgery, especially for patients who choose a lumpectomy over a mastectomy. Its goal: reduce the risk of recurrence by targeting any lingering cancer cells in the breast or surrounding tissue.
While effective, radiation can come with side effects, both immediate and delayed. Common symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Swelling
- Scar tissue
- Shortness of breath
One of the more serious concerns involves the heart, which can unintentionally absorb radiation due to its proximity to the breast.
“When the radiation is delivered, unfortunately, the heart happens to be somewhere very near to where they have their breast cancer, and it becomes an innocent bystander absorbing some of the radiation,” explained Dr. Jean-Bernard Durand to SurvivorNet.
This exposure can lead to complications such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and even heart failure — sometimes surfacing decades after treatment.
“We make it a point to see them on a regular basis so that we can catch these things very early and treat them,” Dr. Durand added.
Even advanced techniques like proton therapy, which aim to minimize damage to healthy tissue, aren’t immune to side effects. Fatigue remains a common complaint, and the risk of long-term injury still exists.
“Radiation is a form of energy… and when we give radiation, it has the ability to scatter,” Dr. Durand said. “Even though we may target one particular area, that scattering of energy can cause injury to the local surrounding structures, including the heart.”
Over time, this injury can lead to scar tissue in the heart muscle, its electrical system, and its blood supply.
“We believe it is what causes all the injury that ultimately leads to the symptoms,” he explained.
For survivors, this underscores the importance of ongoing monitoring and open conversations with care teams.
Dr. Chelsea Pinnix, a radiation oncologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center, also previously spoke with SurvivorNet, saying that many people are unnecessarily frightened by the prospect of radiation treatment.
“Radiation for patients typically is a big black box and very scary, initially,” Dr. Pinnix said. “You read a lot of things online and you see a lot of the older studies that have demonstrated toxicity with radiation.”
But what patients are most worried about, she says, is based on how the therapy was delivered years ago. “I like to think about how we’ve evolved [with radiation therapy] as how the cell phone has evolved,” she explained.
“Several decades ago there were big huge cell phones and now we have everything that we can accomplish in little smartphones. And the same applies to radiation therapy.” While nothing has changed in the way radiation affects cancer cells, “a lot has changed in the way that we do our targeting and treatment.”
Radiation Simulation: Preparing for Radiation Treatment
Additionally, similar to other cancer treatments, side effects from radiation can sometimes be managed with lifestyle interventions or adjustments to the treatment plan.
Radiation is a standard part of care for many, but experts still debate its scope and necessity. Dr. Chirag Shah of the Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center notes two key controversies: whether to use whole breast versus partial breast radiation, and whether some patients may not need radiation at all.
“The idea is reducing the duration of treatment and reducing side effects for patients,” Dr. Shah told SurvivorNet. “Omitting radiation is therefore associated with a lower risk of side effects.”
To better prepare for upcoming appointments and conversations with your care team, SurvivorNet recommends exploring its proprietary AI tool “My Health Questions.” The powerful resource delivers structured responses grounded in clinical guidelines and medically reviewed research to help people better understand their treatment options and feel more confident navigating care.
The Role of Radiation in Breast-Conserving Therapy
Understanding Male Breast Cancer
Like women, men have breast tissue and can develop breast cancer. Breast cancer starts when cells in the breast start growing out of control, typically forming a tumor that’s felt as a lump.
WATCH: Men Get Breast Cancer Too
A man’s risk of developing breast cancer may be higher if there’s a history of breast cancer in the family. Typically, male breast cancer manifests as lumps in the chest area. Factors like a patient’s race can impact the prognosis.
Five types of standard treatment are used to treat breast cancer in men:
- Surgery for breast cancer in men mirrors the procedure in women. A modified radical mastectomy removes the whole breast with cancer. The result may involve removing the nipple, according to the National Cancer Institute.
- Chemotherapy involves cancer-killing drugs to prevent the cancer cells from growing. Chemo drugs are usually taken orally or intravenously.
- Hormone therapy involves removing hormones or blocking their ability to help cancer cells grow.
- In radiation therapy, high-energy beams such as X-rays are aimed at cancer cells to kill them.
- Targeted therapy treatment uses drugs designed to target specific cancer cells.
WATCH: Marc Futterweit shares his breast cancer journey.
When Marc Futterweit was told to get a mammogram by his doctor, he was in disbelief.
“I said, What do you mean by a mammogram?’ I don’t have breasts,” Futterweit recalled saying.
However, a second opinion from another physician confirmed Futterweit had breast cancer.
“When I was first diagnosed, I didn’t tell my wife. I thought I was holding it together,” Futterweit said.
When his family learned he was battling breast cancer, they supported him. Having a support group filled with loved ones is an important part of a cancer patient’s journey toward survivorship, according to experts SurvivorNet has spoken to.
He realized that with their support, having male breast cancer is nothing to be ashamed of.
“Men are basically standing in the shadows, they’re ashamed or embarrassed,” Futterweit says. “Just remember, it’s nothing that you have done to cause you to get breast cancer. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. It’s not a woman’s disease.”
Possible Risk Factors for Male Breast Cancer:
- Age. Breast cancer risk increases with age, and most cancers are found in patients over 50. The average age of a man diagnosed with breast cancer is 72.
- Family history. Men with close blood relatives who have had breast cancer are at higher risk for the disease.
- Genetic mutations. Patients may inherit gene defects that make them more susceptible to breast cancer. Men with a mutation in the BRCA2 gene have a 6 percent lifetime risk of developing breast cancer, and men with a mutation in the BRCA1 gene have a 1 percent lifetime risk. These gene mutations are most commonly found in families with strong histories of breast or ovarian cancer, but they have also been found in male breast cancer patients without a family history.
- Klinefelter syndrome. Men with Klinefelter syndrome are born with at least one extra X chromosome which may increase a man’s breast cancer risk by producing high levels of estrogen (a hormone responsible for female sex characteristics) and low levels of androgens (hormones responsible for male sex characteristics). This condition affects about 1 in 1,000 men and can raise the risk of breast cancer by 20 to 60 times that of the general population.
- Hormone therapy. Men who have been treated with drugs containing estrogen are at a greater breast cancer risk. These drugs were once used to treat prostate cancer, and they are still used in sex reassignment processes.
- Conditions affecting the testicles. Testicle injuries, swelling, or removal surgery can increase a man’s risk for the disease by disrupting normal hormone levels.
- Liver disease. Diseases that impede the liver (like cirrhosis) may raise men’s estrogen production and lower their androgen levels, therefore increasing breast cancer risk.
- Alcohol. Heavy drinking is known to raise the risk of breast cancer (which may be related to alcohol’s effect on the liver).
- Radiation therapy. Men who have received radiation therapy to their chests (for conditions like lymphoma) have a higher risk of developing breast cancer.
- Obesity. Fat cells can transform androgens into estrogens, boosting the possibility of an overweight man developing breast cancer.
If any of the above risk factors apply to you, consult your doctor and ask questions. While it’s true that men can work to lower their breast cancer risk by exercising and maintaining a healthy body weight, the most important element of effective cancer treatment is an early diagnosis.
Symptoms of Male Breast Cancer Can Include:
- A lump developed in the breast (usually painless), or a thickening in the breast tissue
- Nipple pain
- An inverted nipple
- Discharge from the nipple, which may be clear or bloody (this was Mathew Knowles’ first symptom)
- Changes to the color or texture of the nipple and areola
- Changes to the color or texture of skin on the chest
- Enlarged lymph nodes under the arm
If You Feel Something, Say Something Men Ignore Symptoms Too Often
Treatment for male breast cancer is largely the same as female breast cancer. A person’s options depend greatly on a variety of factors, including the size of the tumor and how far the cancer cells have spread, but possibilities include surgery, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, radiation therapy and targeted therapy.
Laughter & Positivity Through Challenges
It’s interesting to note, that according to the National Library of Medicine, research has shown that the amount of pain medication needed for patients is reduced after they watch funny movies.
And perhaps humor, like Tyler Mane makes sure to have in his life, could also help when someone is dealing with the pain that comes amid a health challenge like breast cancer.
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The importance of positivity amid tough times has been seen through stand-up comedian Jesus Trejo in Long Beach, California.
Trejo became a caregiver for both of his parents after his mother was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor and his father was later diagnosed with colon cancer. But instead of panicking and focusing on the devastating situation, the only child stepped up to care for his parents with love and laughter.
In a previous interview with SurvivorNet, Trejo opened up about putting his career aside to care for his parents in their time of need, while making time to smile along the way.
Stand-Up Comedian & Cancer Caregiver, Jesus Trejo Reminds Us That ‘Laughter is a Game-Changer’
“The only advice I have for anyone watching this is laugh, and laugh often, laugh at yourself. Don’t take yourself seriously. Things are already bad. Because once you do that, it’s a game-changer,” Trejo told SurvivorNet.
He also says the laughter itself might be brief, but “the effects of it just reverberate through your body, and can change an already bad situation into a better one.”
Focusing on hope and maintaining a positive attitude amid a health battle can always be helpful.
Anecdotal evidence from SurvivorNet experts points to how a positive mindset can impact a cancer prognosis.
Dr. Zuri Murrell of Cedars-Sinai told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview, “My patients who thrive, even with stage 4 cancer, from the time that they, about a month after they’re diagnosed, I kind of am pretty good at seeing who is going to be OK. Now doesn’t that mean I’m good at saying that the cancer won’t grow.”
“But I’m pretty good at telling what kind of patient are going to still have this attitude and probably going to live the longest, even with bad, bad disease. And those are patients who, they have gratitude in life.”
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Meanwhile, Dr. Dana Chase, a Gynecologic Oncologist at UCLA Health, also says it’s important to try to focus on the good, stay positive, and do things that bring you joy to the degree you’re able to do so amid battling a disease like cancer.
“We know, actually from good studies, that emotional health, quality of life is associated with survival, meaning better quality of life is associated with better survival, better outcomes,” Dr. Chase said in an earlier interview.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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