John Cena Reveals Past Skin Cancer Diagnosis

WWE

WWE’s John Cena has opened up about a past skin cancer diagnosis, reflecting on a life spent in the sun without the use of sunscreen.

The face of the Neutrogena “Sunscreen You Can’t See” campaign spoke about his past diagnosis in an interview with People.

Discussing the launch of the Ultra Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen SPF 70, Cena revealed his past approach to sunscreen saying:

“I grew up in a small town next to Newburyport and Salisbury Beach. The Massholes call it the North Shore.

“Some of my earliest memories of summer are of small carnivals and people walking the beachside.”

Asked about whether he wore sunscreen at a young age, Cena would confirm it wasn’t on the agenda, stating:

“Never. My mom raised five boys and I’m pretty sure she just wanted to just keep us alive and healthy. She had her hands full for sure, so I certainly do not blame her. And me being born in ’77, this was kind of all new knowledge.”

His love for the sun continued past his teenage years, with Cena going on to discuss life in his twenties, leading to neglecting his skin, explaining:

“I was stubborn. I didn’t want to have a routine and I also thought the problem would never reach me. And it’s one of those things where I had a ton of exposure with minimal protection and it caught up with me.”

Cena would then go on to reveal the diagnosis that led him to go for sunscreen to protect himself, saying:

“It wasn’t until I went to a dermatologist and got a skin checkup and had a cancerous spot removed from my right pec.

“I was very lucky to have a great dermatologist who kind of, I guess for lack of a better term, held me by the hand and let me know that I wasn’t alone.

“The stats on this are overwhelming, but as much as I learn about them, those numbers don’t mean anything. I think the best way to hammer home a point is human-to-human connection. And I, as a human, can tell you: Man, that phone call’s not what you want to get because it is unpredictable and you don’t know how bad it’s going to be

“A year later, I went back and had another spot removed close to my right shoulder. It shows up like a white polka dot on the side of my chest and on my shoulder. If you watch WWE, you’ll be able to see them.”

He would also note that, despite his air of positivity, his mind takes him to the “worst-case scenario” when he encounters uncomfortable things.

Having had these two encounters with skin cancer, Cena stated that the resulting spots are a reminder to protect himself.

Cena would also state that it was only part-way through filming the Neutrogena campaign that he felt brave enough to reveal the earlier diagnosis.

With his upcoming match against Cody Rhodes, Cena recently discussed his motivation for the championship match at WWE WrestleMania 41.

To make sure you stay up to date with all the biggest wrestling and WrestleTalk news, follow us on BlueSky by clicking this link!

• health
• wwe
• John Cena

Share this article with friends