John Cena said a past skin cancer diagnosis changed how he views sun protection.
The 47-year-old WWE star revealed he was diagnosed and treated for skin cancer. He spoke during a Neutrogena campaign promoting sunscreen use. Cena said he never wore sunscreen growing up and later neglected his skin in Florida.
Also, a dermatologist visit found a cancerous spot on his right pec. The spot was removed. Cena said the diagnosis felt overwhelming at first.
“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.”
Meanwhile, he said his dermatologist helped him cope. Cena said human connection mattered more than statistics.
“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.”
Then, about a year later, doctors removed another spot. Cena said his mind sometimes went to the worst case. With guidance, he learned to take sun care seriously.
Finally, Cena urged others to protect their skin and get checked. He said he feels grateful after two treatments.
“I’m so grateful to be able to dodge those two bullets, but I wear them as a reminder of, ‘hey man, you need to take the extra few seconds to protect yourself every day.”