The short answer
KISS drummer Peter Criss noticed a painful lump in his chest after a workout in 2007 and was diagnosed with male breast cancer, treated with surgery in 2008. Because it was caught early and had not spread, he needed no chemotherapy. He went public in 2009 to remind men that they can get breast cancer too.
Peter Criss, the original drummer and co-founder of KISS, was diagnosed with male breast cancer after finding a painful lump in his chest while working out.
The cancer was caught early and had not spread, so surgery was enough and he did not need chemotherapy.
Men have breast tissue too, and although male breast cancer is rare, it is real and can be serious.
Men are often diagnosed later than women because they do not expect breast cancer, which is why noticing a new lump matters.
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The full explanation.
Who he is
Peter Criss, born George Peter John Criscuola, is the original drummer and a co-founder of KISS, the face-painted rock band that became one of the most recognizable acts in music history. Known to fans as "The Catman," he helped drive the band's sound in the 1970s and sang its enduring ballad "Beth." Decades later, Criss became known for something outside music entirely: he is one of the most visible male breast cancer survivors, and he has used that platform to tell men a truth many do not know — that they can get breast cancer too.
The diagnosis
In 2007, after a workout at the gym, Criss noticed a painful lump in his chest. As a lifelong drummer who stayed active, he was, in his words, very aware of his own body. He did not rush in at first — his wife was dealing with her own health battle at the time — but he did have it checked. In February 2008 he had surgery to remove what doctors initially believed was a harmless nodule. The tissue that came out told a different story: it was breast cancer.
The news floored him. "I flipped out. I just couldn't believe it," he later recalled. Like most men, he had never imagined breast cancer was something that could happen to him.
The treatment
The crucial fact in Criss's case was timing: the cancer had been caught early and had not spread. A follow-up surgery about a month later removed the cancer completely. Because it was localized, he did not need chemotherapy, and his prognosis was excellent. He declared himself cancer-free in 2008 and has spoken about staying on top of monitoring in the years since.
Criss chose to go public with his story in 2009, appearing on CNN to raise awareness. He had wrestled with whether to speak up at all. In the end, he decided that telling the truth himself was better than letting the news leak in a distorted way — and that his experience could genuinely help other men.
What his story teaches
Peter Criss's story carries one clear, life-relevant message: breast cancer is not only a women's disease. Men have a small amount of breast tissue behind the nipple, and cancer can develop there. It is uncommon — male breast cancer accounts for roughly 1 percent of all breast cancers — but "rare" is not the same as "impossible," and the men who get it are just as much at risk as anyone.
The problem is that men often do not expect it, so a lump may get ignored or explained away, and men do not get routine mammograms. That can push diagnosis to a later stage, when the cancer is harder to treat. Criss's outcome was good precisely because he did the opposite: he noticed a change in his body and had it checked. Knowing the symptoms of breast cancer — a firm lump or thickening near the nipple, nipple changes or discharge, skin changes on the chest — helps anyone act sooner. And knowing how breast cancer is treated shows why early, contained cancers so often need only surgery, as Criss's did. Family history matters here too; a strong pattern of breast or ovarian cancer in relatives can raise a man's risk, which is one reason it is worth understanding family history and cancer risk.
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The bottom line
Peter Criss found a lump in his chest, took it seriously, and was treated for male breast cancer before it could spread. His willingness to talk openly turned a private scare into a public reminder: men can get breast cancer, and noticing a new lump early can make all the difference.
Words to know
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Common questions
▸What kind of cancer did Peter Criss have?
Peter Criss was diagnosed with male breast cancer. He first noticed a painful lump in his chest after a workout, and surgery in 2008 confirmed it was cancer. Because it was found early and had not spread, he was treated successfully without chemotherapy.
▸Can men really get breast cancer?
Yes. Men have a small amount of breast tissue, and cancer can develop in it. Male breast cancer is rare — it makes up only about 1 percent of all breast cancers — but it is real, and Criss went public specifically to make that point.
▸Is Peter Criss cancer-free now?
Yes. Criss declared himself cancer-free in 2008 after surgery removed the tumor, which had not spread. He has said he continues regular monitoring, and he later became an outspoken advocate for male breast cancer awareness.
▸Why is male breast cancer often found late?
Many men do not realize they can get breast cancer, so they may ignore a lump or delay seeing a doctor. Men also do not get routine mammograms. That combination can mean a later diagnosis, which is exactly why noticing and acting on a new chest lump matters.
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